It figures the day after we did our last airline route update, news began popping again for new Florida service.

Delta is slowly but surely growing Miami as part of its “four corners” strategy (Seattle, Los Angeles, Boston and Miami) now adding nonstops from Miami to Nassau. This is not a completely new route for Delta. The airline has previously flown Fort Lauderdale-Nassau (from 1985 to 1997, from 2004 to 2007 and again briefly for about a month around Christmas/New Year 2018-19) and flew from Miami from 1991 to 1995. When codeshare partners KLM, Air France, Virgin Atlantic and LATAM are factored in, Delta’s Miami operation is looking more and more like a large international gateway focus city. Delta is never going to compete head-to-head straight up with American’s Miami hub but can compete using its codeshare and equity partners to augment its own flying.

Despite growing Miami, Delta still has two unique nonstop destinations from Fort Lauderdale that they do not serve nonstop from Miami: Cincinnati and Seattle/Tacoma. In addition, as noted last week, Delta is now flying West Palm Beach to White Plains nonstop, adding a city from PBI that lacks MIA service.

Canada Jetlines is adding Orlando to Toronto-Pearson service in the winter. They will also begin service from Fort Lauderdale in September.

Per Twitter user Ishrion Aviation, who is correct 100% of the time, Porter Airlines, an incredibly popular airline among business people in Toronto is starting service from Toronto-Pearson to Fort Lauderdale, Fort Myers, Miami, Orlando and Tampa. They also reportedly will begin service from Ottawa to Fort Lauderdale and Orlando. Porter previously served Melbourne from Toronto-City Airport but discontinued the service after Covid began.

El Al announced its spring plans for Fort Lauderdale-Tel Aviv service. Beginning April 15, FLL will get two flights a week to supplement the five times a week Miami-Tel Aviv service. Fort Lauderdale gets the Sabbath layover flight, taking that single frequency from Miami (which previously had six flights a week) and getting a Monday flight as well.

BermudAir is bringing it’s all business class styled product to Florida with new Fort Lauderdale to/from Bermuda service beginning September 23. I’m generally dubious about all business-class airlines lasting, but some have survived.

JSX is shifting south Florida service from Miami to Opa-Locka. Beginning September 28 JSX will offer daily service from Opa-Locka to Dallas-Love and five times weekly service to White Plains.

JSX released the following statement:

“Serving Opa-Locka, Miami’s executive airport, allows customers to avoid the congestion associated with South Florida’s other airports. While still in a prime location to access Miami and South Beach, Opa-Locka Airport taxi times will be shorter. Being a bit further north, OPF is a better option for Customers who are headed to Ft. Lauderdale and West Palm Beach as well.”