JetBlue Airways announced St. Thomas University as one of its preferred university partners Nov. 3, providing exclusive travel benefits and discounts for St. Thomas University athletic teams. The partnership also extends to group travel for academic and experiential learning programs. Michael Mominey, the university’s interim vice president for philanthropy and vice president for athletic revenue generation and strategy, said the agreement comes as St. Thomas University continues to build relationships with community organizations.
Partnership covers athletics and academics
The agreement gives St. Thomas University athletic teams access to JetBlue travel benefits and discounts. It also covers group travel connected to academic and experiential learning programs. Mominey said JetBlue’s mission and vision align with the university as St. Thomas University continues to build for the future and pursue excellence.
“This particular partnership comes at the right time for our university as we continue to establish and build authentic relationships with pillar organizations in our community,” Mominey said. He described JetBlue as a nationally recognized and respected company. “JetBlue is certainly one of those nationally recognized and respected companies whose mission and vision align very well with our university. As we continue to build for the future and pursue excellence, I couldn’t think of a better partner than JetBlue.”
JetBlue expands Fort Lauderdale service
JetBlue has increased its daily departures from Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport by 75% compared with the same period last year. During the summer, the airline added nonstop daily service from Fort Lauderdale to Baltimore, Charlotte, Cleveland, Nashville, Detroit, Houston, Chicago and Ponce, Puerto Rico. The expansion connects the partnership to JetBlue’s broader commitment to South Florida.
JetBlue plans to begin service from Fort Lauderdale to Indianapolis, San Diego, Columbus, Ohio, Cali and Barranquilla, Colombia, and Caracas, Venezuela, in the coming months. The announcement did not identify specific routes for St. Thomas University teams or university groups. The partnership instead establishes travel benefits for athletic teams while extending group-travel support to academic and experiential learning programs.
Bobcats enter partnership during strong fall
The St. Thomas University football team was undefeated and ranked No. 1 in the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics at the time of the announcement. The St. Thomas University women’s volleyball team was ranked No. 9 and was within reach of its sixth consecutive Sun Conference regular-season title. Those teams were among the athletic programs highlighted with the partnership announcement.
The St. Thomas University men’s and women’s swimming and diving teams debuted at No. 1 in the inaugural SwimCloud ratings. The St. Thomas University men’s basketball team defeated defending National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics champion and preseason No. 2 Freed-Hardeman University in its second game of the season. Together, those results provide the athletic context for the university’s new corporate partnership.
FSB Take
The agreement gives St. Thomas University a defined travel benefit for athletic teams while also supporting group travel beyond competition. That broader coverage links the partnership to both Bobcats athletics and the university’s academic and experiential learning programs. JetBlue’s expanded Fort Lauderdale service provides additional context for a partnership centered on travel access.
Source: Original report