Making it work together; Barger's visit to Worcester seen as 'positive sign'.

Byline: Priyanka Dayal McCluskey

WORCESTER -- JetBlue CEO David J. Barger urged local business people Wednesday to support the airline, five weeks before the first JetBlue flights take off from Worcester Regional Airport.

"There's no doubt in my mind that Worcester works for us,'' he told the Central Mass. Business Expo. "But what we need is your support.''

JetBlue Airways Corp. has been growing in New England, especially in Boston, and announced in April that it would also launch service from Worcester. The airline has scheduled one daily flight to Fort Lauderdale and another to Orlando, beginning Nov. 7.

JetBlue executives expect their business in Worcester could grow as it did in Hartford, which started with the same destinations as Worcester but now has more. Mr. Barger called Hartford "wildly profitable.''

"This whole region is doing so well for us,'' he said. "People don't want to travel a long way for an airport. They want the ease of an airport such as Worcester.''

JetBlue is a profitable airline, and young by industry standards, which has lower fares than some of its bigger competitors but also offers perks such as extra leg room and in-flight TVs. It is known for its corporate culture, one that Mr. Barger said involves a focus on the customer. He credited the company's employees -- JetBlue has hired 19 people to work in Worcester -- with its success.

"This isn't rocket science,'' he said.

Worcester has struggled in recent years to hold on to passenger air service. The last carrier, charter service Direct Air, left in 2012 amid financial problems. To help JetBlue succeed where Direct Air and others have failed, the Massachusetts Port Authority and the federal, state and local governments are contributing about $1.2 million in marketing expenses and waived fees.

Mr. Barger said in an interview that while he's pleased with the support, the incentives are small compared to what JetBlue will spend to fly a $40 million aircraft twice a day to and from Worcester.

JetBlue will closely watch the first year of service in Worcester to determine if it will be successful.

"When we enter a market, it's with purpose,'' Mr. Barger said. "It's with staying power, it's with long-term type of plans.''

Initial ticket sales have been strong, but the concern for JetBlue is what happens with bookings after the usually busy winter holiday months.

If the flights from Worcester to Florida are profitable, the airline may add destinations, starting with San...