JetBlue Airways will begin operating three routes into the territory starting Dec. 15.

JetBlue Airways will begin operating three routes into the territory starting Dec. 15.The discount airline will operate one daily flight between San Juan, P.R., and Rohlsen Airport on St. Croix; two daily flights between San Juan and King Airport on St. Thomas; and five weekly flights between Boston's Logan Airport and St. Thomas, according to a statement issued Thursday by the V.I. Tourism Department.JetBlue made the announcement during a press conference Thursday in San Juan.

The new routes will bring an additional 88,000 seats to the territory each year, according to the Tourism Department.JetBlue's flights from San Juan will be flown by 100-seat Embraer 190 planes, and the flights between Boston and St. Thomas will be flown by the airline's Airbus A320 aircraft.In developing the new service, we have always been mindful that consistent cost-effective air service to/from San Juan provides an important economic and tourism function for our local community and businesses,Gov. John deJongh Jr. said in a prepared statement.The added capacity created by this new JetBlue service to both St. Croix and St. Thomas will not only allow us to maximize the inbound market from Puerto Rico and market to potential visitors connecting through San Juan, but it also provides additional flights for Virgin Islanders traveling to Puerto Rico.JetBlue serves 66 cities with 700 daily flights, and the airline said it plans to begin service to La Romana, Dominican Republic, subject to government approval, later this year.