JetBlue Airlines inaugurated a new service with three daily nonstop flights from Nashville’s International Airport to New York’s John F. Kennedy International Airport.

Nonstop flights to JFK will cost $69 each way. JetBlue is also offering $89 special fares on its Embraer 190 jets from Nashville to connecting destinations from JFK, including Boston, Mass., Burlington, Vt., Buffalo, Rochester and Syracuse, N.Y., Portland, Maine, Richmond, Va. and Washington, D.C.

Currently in its sixth year of operation, the airline serves 42 destinations and 470 flights daily. Nashville stands as the first of six new destinations JetBlue plans to launch. In the next two months JetBlue plans to initiate similar programs in Houston, Texas, Aruba, Sarasota/Bradenton, Fla., Tucson, Ariz. and Columbus, Ohio, offering low-cost options to JFK Airport.

The airline features its signature in-flight entertainment experience, offering 36 channels of DirecTV and over 100 channels of XM Satellite Radio.

"JetBlue's flights between Nashville and New York City will link two popular tourist and business destinations with our low-fare, award-winning service," said David Neeleman, JetBlue's founder and CEO in a press release. "In addition, our customers will be able to enjoy the tunes of the 'Music City' onboard before they arrive and after they depart, compliments of our live in-flight entertainment programming."

"JetBlue's arrival ties Music City more firmly to New York City and the world," said Nashville Mayor Bill Purcell in a press release. "This is an important new partnership that will enrich Nashville's business and tourism travel opportunities."

Southwest Airlines is a low-cost airline in Nashville with a market similar to that of JetBlue. One of the most important incentives to fly with Southwest is the Southwest Rapid Rewards program, awarding free flights after a certain number of fares in a given time period. JetBlue offers a similar program in which TrueBlue participants gain varying points that can be dedicated toward free airline fares.

Ron Wainshal, CEO of the New York/Connecticut-based leading operating aircraft lessor, Aircastle Advisors, identified other reasons for comparison between the airlines.

“JetBlue is using recently introduced Embraer E190 aircraft on their new Nashville service,” he said. “While these are somewhat smaller than Southwest's Boeing aircraft, they are configured so there are no middle seats; plus JetBlue also offers in-flight live TV service throughout the cabin.”

Sophomore Kinjal Shah agrees that JetBlue will face competition. He said, “Students are always looking for low fares, and you can see that with the abundance of student sites offering cheap airfare. For JetBlue’s new program to be successful, it would definitely require good marketing and publicity to stand out from the other sites.”

Students like freshman Carleigh Flexer welcome the option.

“Tickets are really expensive,” Flexer said. “I typically fly American Airlines, United Airlines or Frontier Airlines, but it would be great to see an airline balance both amenities with affordability.”

Although JetBlue is offering its new $89 special fares, freshman Dean Whiteside, a New York resident, said JetBlue doesn’t mention the fares are seasonal.

“I saw the $89 fares, but when it came to booking my flight home for Thanksgiving, the price was up to $299,” Whiteside said. However, Whiteside will continue to fly JetBlue because, “college students’ plans are constantly in flux, and JetBlue’s charging policy for flight change is very lenient with only a minimal penalty for cancellations.”

Freshman Lauren Margolis, who is from outside Boston, said, “I would definitely consider it. There are currently very few flights to Boston, and even the flights offered often have connections in other locations.”