By Lauren Ratcliffe
lratcliffe@scbiznews.com
Published Feb. 22, 2013

In less than one week the first JetBlue Airways flights to Charleston will begin arriving, but the carrier is already planning on expanding its service in and out of the airport.

JetBlue Airways begins its flight service out of Charleston Feb. 28. (Christopher Parypa / Shutterstock.com)

Chris Plunkett, general manager for the airline, said Charleston’s staff has been “phenomenal,” and said it was exciting for him to be part of a growing airline.

“We’ve actually grown a little bit before we started (here),” He said. “In April we will be adding a fourth flight on Saturday to Boston.”

When JetBlue begins its flight service Feb. 28, it will do so with three flights daily — two to John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York and one to Boston Logan International Airport. Plunkett said demand for the service led to the additional flight.

“We’re already moving in the right direction,” he said.

To prepare for service, the airline has a staff of 15 people. Eleven were hired for this position and Plunkett said seven came from the Charleston region.

Plunkett said recruiters for the company were very pleased with the quality of workforce in the Lowcountry.

“They were not shy in saying these were the finest (recruits) we’d seen,” he said.

A reception is planned for next Thursday when the airline’s service begins.

Previous coverage

Aviation authority postpones electing officers, debates JetBlue incentives
Discount airline to fly nonstop to Charleston in 2013