JetBlue gets some incentives for another year.

Byline: Jeremy Shulkin

WORCESTER -- As JetBlue begins its second year as the only airline service operating commercial flights out of Worcester Regional Airport, the airline can rely on at least another calendar year of financial help from the Massachusetts Port Authority.

Just as it did in 2014, Massport's Worcester Incentive Program will waive all landing fees, airplane parking and terminal rents for JetBlue in 2015 at the airport, according to Massport spokesman Dan Riviello. Massport has owned Worcester Regional Airport since 2010, when it purchased the airport from the city of Worcester for $17 million.

Massport waived $349,000 in fees for JetBlue during its first year at Worcester Regional Airport. The waived fees were meant to help the company establish its routes from Worcester to Orlando and Fort Lauderdale in Florida. (MassPort offers similar incentives, including a $1 million program at Logan International Airport in Boston, to encourage previously nonexistent international connections.)

The waived fees for JetBlue in 2014 were part of a larger financial aid package that totaled $1.1 million.

In conjunction with the $349,000 in waived airport fees, JetBlue received $350,000 in federal funds; $150,000 from the Massachusetts Office of Travel and Tourism; $150,000 from Massport; and $150,000 from the city of Worcester. The money was spent on advertising on JetBlue's new presence in Central Massachusetts. That adds up to a $1.1 million in grants and waived fees for the airline's first year of operation at ORH.

At least $150,000 of that marketing money will not be renewed in 2015.

John F. Hill, a spokesman for City Manager Edward Augustus Jr., said, "There is nothing in the city budget for JetBlue marketing'' in 2015.

Timothy P. Murray, president of the Worcester Regional Chamber of Commerce and Destination Worcester, said last year's $150,000 grant provided by Destination Worcester to use on JetBlue, along with in-kind support from the local business community, helped JetBlue launch its advertising presence in Central Massachusetts. He said he was not aware of any conversations to send additional marketing money to JetBlue for this year from city coffers.

Neither Massport, the state, nor the federal government would confirm whether their marketing grant monies would be renewed in 2015.

The advertising money given to JetBlue in 2013-14 went mostly to pay for JetBlue advertising in traditional media such as newspaper and radio...