JetBlue eyeing Panhandle

PANAMA CITY, Fla. -- Officials at Northwest Florida Beaches International Airport (ECP) in West Bay hope a federal transportation grant will be key to landing daily air service from Bay County to New York City, and one airline is supporting the effort. ECP Director Parker McClellan said a letter of support from low-cost airline JetBlue will help the Airport Authority as it seeks funding from the U.S. Department of Transportation's Small Community Air Service Development Grant program. The letter says the airline is considering service to Northwest Florida from Kennedy International Airport as part of its five-year growth plan. The airport is requesting $400,000 from the U.S. DOT to supplement the $1.8 million incentive package to entice JetBlue and other airlines. (Source: Panama City News Herald, 08/13/14)