Cape Air Steps In to Restore Islip-Boston Route
Cape Air will begin operating flights between Long Island MacArthur Airport (ISP) and Boston Logan International Airport (BOS) on July 3, just weeks after JetBlue Airways unexpectedly canceled its plans for the same route. JetBlue had been scheduled to launch daily summer service from ISP to BOS on May 1, but pulled out days before the start date due to lower-than-expected bookings. Cape Air, based in Hyannis, Massachusetts, quickly moved to fill the gap, announcing four daily round-trip flights using its 11-seat Tecnam P2012 Traveller aircraft. The schedule will provide 28 flights per week and a total of 308 weekly seats between the two cities.
Town of Islip Supervisor Angie Carpenter expressed disappointment at JetBlue’s withdrawal but welcomed Cape Air’s entry as a timely solution to maintain vital connectivity with Boston. The regional airline, known for serving more than 30 airports across the U.S. and Caribbean with frequent short-haul flights, views this as a strategic opportunity to expand its presence in the Northeast.
ISP Aviation Commissioner Rob Schneider noted that Cape Air saw value in stepping into a market vacated by a major carrier, reinforcing MacArthur Airport’s role as a convenient alternative to larger and more congested New York airports such as JFK and LaGuardia. Situated roughly 45 miles east of JFK, ISP has actively promoted itself as a low-stress, accessible hub for both business and leisure travelers in the Long Island region.
JetBlue’s departure from the ISP-BOS route would have marked the end of what was planned to be the airline’s fourth route from MacArthur. The carrier continues to operate flights from ISP to three Florida destinations: Fort Lauderdale, Orlando, and West Palm Beach. Cape Air’s arrival ensures that travelers still have a direct connection to Boston, preserving regional access to one of the Northeast’s key air travel corridors.
With the addition of Cape Air, MacArthur Airport now hosts six airlines offering scheduled passenger service, including Avelo Airlines, Breeze Airways, Frontier Airlines, JetBlue, and Southwest Airlines. Cape Air’s expanded network, which supports around 300 daily flights systemwide, allows the regional carrier to offer high-frequency connections ideal for short-haul travelers.
The new Islip-Boston service reflects a broader trend of smaller carriers stepping into markets where larger airlines have retreated due to shifting demand patterns or economic constraints. For Cape Air, this route not only expands its Northeast footprint but also reinforces its position as a reliable provider of essential air service in underserved markets. For travelers, it means continued access to Boston from Long Island and another reason to consider ISP as a viable departure point.
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