SANTO DOMINGO – JetBlue airline unveiled a new special aircraft design inspired by Dominican culture this Wednesday at Las Américas International Airport (AILA), as part of an initiative with which the company seeks to strengthen its historical ties with the Dominican Republic and its diaspora in the United States.
The aircraft, named “Quisqueya la Bluebella”, was officially presented during an event held in Santo Domingo and becomes JetBlue's first plane dedicated to an international destination.
According to the airline's website, the design was created by Dominican artist Willy Gómez and selected by public vote as part of the "RD Pride that Elevates" campaign, launched earlier this year.
The artistic proposal incorporates elements associated with Dominican identity, including the game of dominoes, typical instruments such as the tambora, the güira and the accordion, as well as visual references to merengue, bachata, tropical flora, the palmchat and the Alcázar de Colón.
A visual tribute to Dominican identity
According to JetBlue, the concept seeks to represent the rhythm, color and energy of everyday life in the Dominican Republic through a composition inspired by movement and popular culture.
The name “Quisqueya la Bluebella” refers to the patriotic phrase “Quisqueya la Bella”, reinterpreted with the airline's visual identity.
“When we first flew to Santiago in 2004, we began a connection with the Dominican Republic that has only strengthened over the past two decades,” said Marty St. George, president of JetBlue, quoted by the company.
The phrase “Tamo’ aquí”, placed on the bottom of the aircraft, is also part of the design and seeks to represent the airline’s continued presence within Dominican communities both at home and abroad.
Dominican Republic, one of JetBlue's key markets
JetBlue reported that it currently operates flights to Santo Domingo, Santiago, Punta Cana and Puerto Plata, consolidating its position as the airline with the largest presence on routes between the Dominican Republic and the United States.
The company indicated that during the summer it will operate an average of 45 daily flights to and from the country, in addition to recently announcing new frequencies from Fort Lauderdale to Santo Domingo and Santiago starting in July.
The initiative also included community activities alongside the Hogar Andrés Boca Chica Educational Center, where artist Willy Gómez worked with young people in the creation of a mural inspired by Dominican culture.
JetBlue also noted that it will participate this summer as an official sponsor of the Dominican Day Parade in New York, where it will present a float based on the design of “Quisqueya la Bluebella”.
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