Airport executives typically spend their careers trying to attract more airlines, in order to increase passenger numbers. They often even provide massive incentives for airlines to launch service. Well, there’s an exception, as flagged by Enilria, as executives at one airport seemingly aren’t happy about the growth that they’re seeing…
In this post:
Vero Beach Airport “blindsided” by JetBlue flights
Vero Beach Airport (VRB) in Florida has a mixed service history over the years. Going back decades, the airport saw service from the regional subsidiaries of some major US carriers, but that service ended in 1996. Then tiny regional jet operator Elite Airways flew to the airport between 2015 and 2022, prior to ceasing operations.
In early 2023, something really exciting happened for the airport — or so you’d think — when Breeze Airways started operating flights there, bringing back commercial service. The airline has built up quite the nice network from the airport, and now serves over a dozen destinations.
Now Vero Beach Airport is getting even more service, and as of late 2025, JetBlue plans to operate to Vero Beach from both Boston (BOS) and New York (JFK). That’s fantastic news for the airport… right? Apparently not.
The airport’s director stated in an interview that the airport was “pretty much blindsided” by JetBlue’s announcement, adding that under federal law, the airport must allow the airline to land there, so can’t block the service. Why on earth would an airport want to block a potential “customer?” Well…
Vero Beach seemingly prefers subsidies to business
The issue here centers around government grants. When the airport hasn’t been considered a commercial facility, the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) has offered matching grants of 80% for the airport. This was initially at times when the airport had fewer than 10,000 passengers per year, so even when Elite Airways first started service to the airport, it stayed below that cap.
However, eventually the airport exceeded that cap. At that point, the city’s mayor successfully lobbied to have the FDOT increase the limit for qualifying for those grants from 10,000 passengers to 100,000 passengers per year.
With the current Breeze service, Vero Beach Airport sees just under 100,000 passengers per year, so perhaps the airport views that as a sweet spot — it can make money from airlines, while maximizing its government support.
Now JetBlue will certainly push the airport over the cap. With this, the state’s grants will decrease from 80% to 50%. Enilria notes that according to state records, the airport received $695,000 in grants last year. So if the grants were to decrease from 80% to 50%, the airport would lose roughly $260,000 in grants.
Now, I’m a bit puzzled, because you’d think that amount could easily be made up with the air service being added. However, I suppose some airports prefer the guaranteed revenue stream of government grants, rather than the risk that comes with relying on airline service, especially when we’re talking about point-to-point leisure routes, which could easily be cut (especially for an airline like JetBlue.
There’s something really wrong with the incentives system, though, when executives at an airport feel it’s beneficial to not get more air service, in order to maximize government grants. Like, I see where they’re coming from, but this system seems like it needs some reform.
Bottom line
Executives at Vero Beach Airport are seemingly not thrilled at the prospect of JetBlue launching service to the airport. That’s because this will increase the number of annual passengers to more than 100,000, and as a result, the government grants the airport receives will decrease.
What do you make of this Vero Beach Airport JetBlue drama?
@lucky you are missing a bit of history here.
How this will likely play out - as it has in many other smaller airports -
...1. Subsidies gone. Yes more traffic, but not enough to offset the losses. So raise gate/passenger fees.
2. Traffic for Breeze decreases with competition. That plus fees means Breeze cuts routes.
3. JetBlue is in trouble. Decides the route(s) are not worth it. Cuts the routes.
@lucky you are missing a bit of history here.
How this will likely play out - as it has in many other smaller airports -
1. Subsidies gone. Yes more traffic, but not enough to offset the losses. So raise gate/passenger fees.
2. Traffic for Breeze decreases with competition. That plus fees means Breeze cuts routes.
3. JetBlue is in trouble. Decides the route(s) are not worth it. Cuts the routes.
The net will be a loss of routes for the airport and a significant drop in total revenue.
Breeze doesn't fly to the same airports.
It's nothing about the airline's commitment. It has to do with they are "safe" with the benefits so now they just want to do the bare minimum to receive those benefits. This is true for many other similar situations as others have mentioned. JetBlue should consider other places as I guess this would be a tough one to deal with.
Todd Scher has his head up his ass he is strictly GA and HATES airlines. The City is anti growth of any kind. B6 would be better off going to MLB they would welcome B6 with open arms.
So, the mind set is less NIMBY (Not in My Back Yard) and more BANANA (Build Absolutely Nothing Anywhere Near Anybody). Appears to me the Vero Beach Airport authority is shucking its fiduciary duty to the community.
And if you want a crowded airline terminal, try Palm Springs in the winter time. The terminal was built when regional turbo props were the norm with 30 to 50 PAX. Now, B737 & A320 with 150 to...
So, the mind set is less NIMBY (Not in My Back Yard) and more BANANA (Build Absolutely Nothing Anywhere Near Anybody). Appears to me the Vero Beach Airport authority is shucking its fiduciary duty to the community.
And if you want a crowded airline terminal, try Palm Springs in the winter time. The terminal was built when regional turbo props were the norm with 30 to 50 PAX. Now, B737 & A320 with 150 to 170 PAX come and go. Those waiting for departure are sitting on the floor or in each other's lap. The line to board spills out to the common hall.
It seems to me that B6 would be a great addition, especially in light of its new partnership with UA. It will provide a lot more connecting flight options.
Welfare mentality by the airport management here…
This sounds just like welfare recipients who won't go to work, so they won't lose their government benefits! This airport welfare system must be terminated!
100% agreed. I don’t get why the airport is getting subsidies in the first place. It’s not like it’s an EAS airport or anything.
As usual the people in charge of things in Vero Beach do not want anything that resembles progress. That is unless they can find a way to line there pockets.
AGREE!!!
Flew out of Vero the other day on a Tuesday to providence. Flight was full . I can understand not wanting more flights , more flights mean more passengers and more cars . How much is it going to cost to expand and build the infrastructure to support it . What will an expanded airport do to quiet town.
You're all off base here. I live in Vero, and I'm a 2 million miler on delta and a million miler on AA, so I know a little something about flying. I also know from living here that Vero (and Indian River County) does not want to be another Palm Beach County. The small coastal charm of the area is why people move here. The terminal in Vero is so small, it makes the airport...
You're all off base here. I live in Vero, and I'm a 2 million miler on delta and a million miler on AA, so I know a little something about flying. I also know from living here that Vero (and Indian River County) does not want to be another Palm Beach County. The small coastal charm of the area is why people move here. The terminal in Vero is so small, it makes the airport in White Plains look like Hartsfield-Atlanta. I wonder how they will even accommodate a jetBlue A320 and a Breeze A220 at the same time. This makes no sense!
Small coastal charm?!? More like sprawling subdivisions and strip malls. There is very little left anywhere in Florida that is charming. Poor land planning for decades took care of that.
Has anybody asked the customers what they think? Probably not. I know a number of condo owners from New England that would be happy to have one extra flight into Vero Beach. What Breeze is running now a part-time operation. One more flight from JetBlue would be great. Breeze is doing a great job but the accommodation the public should be greatly considered. Keep us in mind. General Public should have some input. Thank you
I suppose with b6 at Vero there is little chance of drawing them to the newly approved for commercial traffic treasure coast airport. Shame, it seemed like a great spot for JetBlue... draw from the rapidly growling St Lucie area and points 50 miles north and south... They are building a new road to the airport too which will make it easier to access the airport without local streets
Where are they going to hold outbound passengers? Currently the waiting area holds only 125
I'm flown out of Vero before. It is a literal one-gate airport without fewer seats than passengers.
It kind of seems like the writer is spitballing -- he doesn't reference any articles or other sources mentioning the subsidies. And the article he does link to has a longer quote from the airport director talking about how the airport is already near capacity, so it's a little weird that JetBlue just decided they'll be flying...
I'm flown out of Vero before. It is a literal one-gate airport without fewer seats than passengers.
It kind of seems like the writer is spitballing -- he doesn't reference any articles or other sources mentioning the subsidies. And the article he does link to has a longer quote from the airport director talking about how the airport is already near capacity, so it's a little weird that JetBlue just decided they'll be flying there without contacting the airport to find out if it's possible.
The airport can't refuse an airline, but it also can't grow a second runway out of thin air.
You know what also only has one runway? Gatwick Airport.
San Diego also.
And Fort Myers.
Where is DOGE when you actually need them
Wait so can we imply that DeSantis is also subsidizing John Travolta?
Xenu needs money to pay for those Thetan auditors and impossible movie stunts.
FL’s governor has set up a state-level DOGE office…going after all democratic controlled city and county governments. To root out waste. Of course, since Vero Beach is ruby red this will just be ignored. The governor is too busy harassing drag queens and destroying the environment to care about this.
nail on the head
Florida's a great microcosm of America. Some of the dumbest and most politically masochistic people I know are proud residents. Some of the smartest, most charming and intelligent people I know are natives. So it's hard to paint with one brush.
(I should note that of the latter group, nearly all got out after college and never looked back.)
What was it I said that painted with a broad brush? I made a statement of fact. FL DOGE is currently looking only at places that voted democratic in the last election.
Meanwhile the governor attempted to out championship golf courses and resort hotels in environmentally fragile state parks while funneling $10 million of Medicaid fraud settlement monies to a newly-created foundation led by his wife…one that spent millions to wine and dine GOP politicians...
What was it I said that painted with a broad brush? I made a statement of fact. FL DOGE is currently looking only at places that voted democratic in the last election.
Meanwhile the governor attempted to out championship golf courses and resort hotels in environmentally fragile state parks while funneling $10 million of Medicaid fraud settlement monies to a newly-created foundation led by his wife…one that spent millions to wine and dine GOP politicians that were never even asked to make a donation to the foundation.
But I digress. I’m sure others will twist themselves into knots trying to explain all this away.
Relax.
"Of course, since Vero Beach is ruby red this will just be ignored."
Broad brush.
I know you're angry. I would be, too.
Not angry, I call strikes and balls as see them. And it’s hardly painting with a broad brush when I am stating fact. There is not a single statement I made that is incorrect. Every, every government being investigated by Florida DOGE are democratic-controlled governments. Not a single Republican government is being DOGE’d. So, no, I’m not painting with a broad brush.
Vero Beach? Must be the same people who want a smaller government, angry at poor people getting government help, and pro business. Typical "only for me but not for thee."
The thing is, an actual pro-small government, anti-state aid (not anti-poor people), and pro-market person wouldn’t do what the directors of the airport are doing, and instead would welcome this new service with open arms.
In general, Republicans (who you’re thinking of) support the free market or government intervention depending on whether it suits them or not. They like to call themselves classical liberals or libertarians, but they’re unfortunately not quite there.
I’m...
The thing is, an actual pro-small government, anti-state aid (not anti-poor people), and pro-market person wouldn’t do what the directors of the airport are doing, and instead would welcome this new service with open arms.
In general, Republicans (who you’re thinking of) support the free market or government intervention depending on whether it suits them or not. They like to call themselves classical liberals or libertarians, but they’re unfortunately not quite there.
I’m not saying VRB’s director votes red, but if he does, as you’re assuming, that’s where the confusion comes from.
@JetBlueFanboy "In general, Republicans (who you’re thinking of) support the free market or government intervention depending on whether it suits them or not. They like to call themselves classical liberals or libertarians, but they’re unfortunately not quite there."
It's almost like they make it up as they go along to suit their pyramid scheme. Like when they talk about liberty but get butt-tight about every single instance of personal existence/expression that doesn't go their way,...
@JetBlueFanboy "In general, Republicans (who you’re thinking of) support the free market or government intervention depending on whether it suits them or not. They like to call themselves classical liberals or libertarians, but they’re unfortunately not quite there."
It's almost like they make it up as they go along to suit their pyramid scheme. Like when they talk about liberty but get butt-tight about every single instance of personal existence/expression that doesn't go their way, from LGBT people living their lives to bloggers acknowledging the incredible policy changes in our current administration.
I had the good fortune to befriend a guy in college whose father is a leading Originalist legal mind. Absurd and sad to see how he backtracks and deflects now that the Supreme Court is bending the Constitution to whims. I guess a 40 year career as an Originalist was just a higher form of cold quitting.
If the JetBlue service lasts, and does well, then the airport should be able to make up for the lost FDOT gravy with some fresh PFIC revenue and incidentals from parking and concessions. This is how small airports outgrow the need for subsidies.
But that's a big "if." Airlines are famously fickle, and especially in the Southeast, and especially JetBlue.
Yeah, that Director is gone in less than a monthl.
This section of FL is one of the worst, notorious for NIMBY's and anti-growth folks. They successfully blocked a Brightline station from being built, and now years later are begging for one. While I am sure the gov't money is a big part of this, I also believe residents/the local gov't would prefer less travel options for the sake of "noise reduction" or whatever other excuse
They are anti-growth yet the place is growing like a tumor (no insult intended other than the fine people of Vero Beach). I always love it when people move to a growing place and then once they get there they want all growth to come to halt. Selfish, pure and simple.
This is obviously a misaligned incentives issue, but the stretch between PBI and MCO is growing fast and Breeze's VRB service met a real need. I would expect B6 to do well on this route. Interested to follow the development of Treasure Coast International Airport as well (https://www.yahoo.com/news/road-may-connect-treasure-coast-090630138.html), which is even more well-located than VRB to capitalize on the growth in Jupiter/Port St. Lucie/Stuart.
VRB's airport manager should be embarrassed, especially since Vero's Mayor was so positive in this article.
https://www.yahoo.com/news/articles/vero-beach-lands-jetblue-boston-153343243.html?guccounter=1
The fact that the airport manager there is annoyed at more competition, driving down fares and increasing customers, shows that they are incompetent and should not be running an airport.
Not sure why the confusion here. Executives are rightly worried about JetBlue's commitment. They are worried they are going to lose their foundational service in the form of Breeze for the shiny and distracted service of JetBlue. B6 is a mess, no matter what anyone says. Vero sees Breeze as committed and B6 as just a shiny temporary route that will cancel.
You know who's even more of a mess?
Breeze.
IDK about that...and at least Breeze isn't the one out there trying to get married to any of the who's who of crappy airlines to stay out of bankruptcy court.
You sure about that? They’re hemorrhaging cash. They can’t get any additional funding. David is desperate to merge w Avelo, Allegiant, Sun Country. He’s praying someone will buy him.
Wouldn't mind if jetBlue decided instead to try MLB rather than VRB. They would have no competition to NYC from there.
The issue they worry about is that the subsidies stop because of Jetblue service but in addition suppose JetBlue quickly pulls service then do the subsidies come back? Smaller airports like this are always a risk and JetBlue can't afford to burn cash hoping a route over the long run can be profitable.
Of course not saying that's right. There should be NO subsidies. An airport should survive on market forces not a bailout from the taxpayers.
nothing like sucking on the Florida tit for money and do less work and make more money.
of course. Who wants to actually work when you can live off the public dole.
Agreed Tim- super interesting that a county that’s majority republican would want to lean so much on government assistance!! Interesting hypocrites down there!
https://www.bestplaces.net/voting/city/fl/vero_beach