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After announcing its departure from the small airfield in mid-May, JetBlue Airways officially conducted its final flight from Manchester-Boston Regional Airport(MHT) on July 8. The departure of flight B61143 at 4:40 PM marked the end of an 18-month stint of service that began in January 2025, as the New Hampshire Union Leader reported.
In the absence of JetBlue, Breeze Airways and Southwest Airlines offer the remaining choices for low-cost airfare to travelers in the area. Customers and Airport Director Tom Malafronte expressed disappointment to the Union Leader, especially with the recent end of service by Spirit Airlines.
The Vacuum Left From The Spirit Effect
When JetBlue arrived at Manchester Regional, it was a major development for the small airport that represented the culmination of decades of efforts by management and local leaders. The recent bankruptcy of Spirit, which has led to the liquidation of its fleet and network, has caused a shuffling of services and destinations among virtually all U.S.-based air carriers.
Malafronte explained that the airline was reallocating the aircraft and aircrew that served MHT to Fort Lauderdale Airport (FLL) in Florida because a gate had become available after Spirit pulled out. FLL is an important focus city in the JetBlue network, so the airline could not pass up an opportunity to claim a greater market share. The route that JetBlue flew from MHT to 
Orlando International Airport (MCO) in Florida had a consistent demand, with about 82% of seats full on average.
Although this is not exceptionally high passenger numbers, other carriers at MHT have expressed interest in taking on some of the customers who enjoyed the JetBlue service. JetBlue had also offered seasonal flights to FLL and Fort Myers Airport (RSW) for a total of three destinations in Florida at peak capacity. Malafronte gave this comment to the NH Union Leader:
“It is unfortunate that they find themselves in a financial position which did not allow time for the MHT market to mature, but we understand their immediate need to increase market share in a focus city.”
MHT: Small Airfield, Big Customer Loyalty
With flights ending at Manchester, the next closest option is Boston Logan International (BOS) for most travelers in the area who enjoyed taking advantage of the small airfield’s JetBlue service. However, many local customers expressed their extreme disappointment as the alternative provided by MHT was a welcome relief from the additional traffic and general congestion that comes with taking a flight out of the BOS mega hub.
Some customers stated that they would look for another economy carrier out of Burlington, Vermont, instead of making the trek down to BOS. This drop in general passenger flow for the airport is a particularly stinging side effect of the carrier’s pullout after nearly a quarter-century of courting by the MHT administration. When JetBlue arrived, it aggressively supported the carrier, granting incentives, a substantial marketing budget, and heavy promotional campaigns to ensure the carrier would get a kickstart when it took off.
How 2026 Reframed The Air Travel Market
The official liquidation of Spirit was a major turning point in American air travel this year, but the dramatic spike in jet fuel prices as a result of Operation Epic Fury and Iran has also had a ripple effect. Although the evaporation of affordable air carriers has created market opportunities, the much higher operating costs as a result of fuel prices have tempered the market plays of airlines looking to fill the void.
JetBlue leadership cited an industry-wide aircraft availability shortfall and operational constraints, framing the Manchester exit as a necessary but tough call. In fact, the airline is speculated to still be in a kind of recovery mode from a failed attempt to merge with Spirit in 2024, which was blocked by the federal government. Affordable air carriers like JetBlue are much more sensitive to this volatility than legacy carriers like the ‘big three’ of United, American, and Delta Air Lines.
