US low-fare carrier JetBlue Airways has this week inaugurated flights between its base at New York John F Kennedy International Airport and President Juan Bosch International Airport in Samana, its sixth destination in the Dominican Republic. The airline started twice weekly flights on the route using an Airbus A320 on November 14, 2012, introducing the only non-stop air service between the beach destination and the US.

In the Dominican Republic, JetBlue also serves La Romana, Puerto Plata, Punta Cana, Santiago and Santo Domingo with service to Boston, Ft. Lauderdale/Hollywood, New York, Orlando and San Juan. Just last week the airline announced plans for two more routes linking San Juan with Punta Cana and Santiago.

“Samana is a beach paradise in the Dominican Republic, a secret worth discovering. We have no doubts our customers will rush to learn everything that this tropical location has to offer," said, Vice President of Network Planning and Partnerships, JetBlue Airways. “Samana is a destination we've long had our eye on; today we thank the Dominican government and communities for the support we continue to receive.”

JetBlue made its debut in the Dominican Republic in June 2004 and this month is offering over 600 rotations into the country offering approximately 82,000 seats in each direction across the eleven routes it serves. It now accounts for 39.4 per cent of the departures between the US and the Dominican Republic and has a 36.2 per cent share of the seat capacity, ranking it as by far the largest carrier in this market. "We are very pleased, as the country's largest carrier, to add more options for locals and visitors alike to continue exploring and enjoying everything the country has to offer,” added Scott Laurence.

Although the JetBlue service represents the first direct links to Samana from the US since American Eagle Airlines provided a connection to San Juan between December 2007 and September 2008, the destination has regularly links to Canada from Air Canada and WestJet Airlines, while long-haul seasonal leisure services to Europe are provided by Condor, Thomson Airways, XL Airways France and White Airways.

Samana is located on the northeastern coast of the Dominican Republic and alongside agriculture and fishing, it relies on tourism to support its economy. The Peninsula is home to a number of secluded beaches and charming towns like Samana, Las Galeras and Las Terrenas and at the start of the year visitors can view the annual migration of thousands of North Atlantic humpback whales that come to the Samaná Bay to give birth.

“We trust this new route will be warmly embraced by the Dominicans traveling from the United States and the thousands of Americans that choose the Dominican Republic for their vacations every year,” said Monika Infante Henriquez, General Director of airport operator Aerodom.

As part of the launch, JetBlue has also made a computer and book donation to the Liceo Manuela Mullix Fermin - a school just outside of Samana - through its long-time community partner, the DREAM (Dominican Republic Education and Mentoring) Project. The DREAM Project is an American and Dominican non for profit organisation that believes quality education is critical for the future of the Dominican Republic.