Based on rumor mills and a particular twitter post by Civil Aviation Director of Guatemala, it looks like the next destination to be announced by JetBlue could be GUA, most likely JFK-GUA. Although FLL-GUA is possible. This is another in the long list of VFR routes that JetBlue should do well on. Currently, the only competition is UA out of EWR for 2x weekly in off season and then daily in summer month. This should be a route they can do with A320 if there isn't enough A321NEO around. Not really surprised here, since I got the sense they wanted to complete their collection of JFK VFR routes before European flights start. After GUA, SAL is probably the most obvious VFR destination that is reachable by A321NEO and not currently served by JetBlue.

I'm watching for these to be announced next year to South America.
JFK/FLL-GUA
JFK-UIO
JFK/FLL-SAL

They have been looking at GUA and SAL for a while. I think they will do very well, even on the A320. JetBlue already has heavy maintenance done in SAL.

Can they go UIO-JFK without a tech stop somewhere? I don't know if this would be possible. Maybe the NEO can do it.

-J.

The neo can definitely do it since it currently operates JFK-GYE which is further south than UIO

I meant performance-wise... the field elevation at UIO is nearly 8,000 feet. It takes a lot more runway than your typical near-sea level takeoff.

Looks like AC Rouge flies UIO-YYZ nonstop on the B763, and there's a couple of European nonstops. So I suppose it is doable, especially for a higher-performance aircraft like the neo.

-J.

whether or not JFK-UIO can work on a A321NEO is a good question here. It is about 100 miles longer than BOS-SFO, which mint can do with no problem (even accounting for transcon westbound hit which is less of an issue for north and south). Not sure how much extra range A321NEO has over mint configured A321CEO since the latter seats 40 fewer passengers and have one more ACT, maybe just 100 nm? Given the large Ecuadorian community in NYC, I definitely think they can do service to both GYE/UIO. Maybe they'd have to block a few seats for it to happen. Not sure if that's still worth it.

The NEO can definitely do it. As diburning said, GYE is further than UIO. I was questioning the return flight since UIO is at such a high elevation, almost 2,500 feet higher than Denver. GYE is at sea level. UIO has a 13,000-foot runway which should be long enough.

I don't really think there is demand for 200 people a day each way to Quito, though. Guayaquil, sure... but Quito I just don't think so. Maybe I'm wrong.

-J.