In a celebratory ceremony held at Las Américas International Airport in the heart of Santo Domingo, major U.S. carrier JetBlue has pulled back the curtain on its latest one-of-a-kind branded aircraft, dubbed “Quisqueya la Bluebella” — a vibrant, loving nod to Dominican heritage and the airline’s deep, long-standing ties to the island nation.
The specially customized plane, an Airbus A320, showcases striking original artwork crafted by local Dominican artist Willy Gómez. Gómez’s design beat out other submissions to win the honor earlier this year, after a public voting campaign that invited community input to select the final artwork that would adorn the aircraft.
Taking its creative inspiration from the beloved patriotic slogan “Quisqueya la Bella” (Beautiful Quisqueya, the historic indigenous name for the Dominican Republic), the design weaves together dozens of iconic symbols that define Dominican national identity. Scattered across the plane’s fuselage are images of dominoes, a staple of Dominican social life, alongside traditional instruments for merengue and bachata — the country’s world-famous musical genres. Completing the tropical, distinctly Dominican scene are lush tropical flowers, swaying palm trees, rolling ocean waves, and the Cigüa Palmera, the country’s official national bird. A bold colloquial phrase “Tamo’ aquí,” which translates to “We’re here,” is also prominently featured, serving as a public declaration of JetBlue’s enduring commitment to the Dominican community both on the island and across the diaspora in the United States and beyond.
Speaking at the official unveiling event, JetBlue President Marty St. George took the opportunity to reflect on the airline’s more than two decades of operations in the Dominican Republic. He framed the custom aircraft as more than just a marketing piece, calling it a heartfelt tribute to Dominican national pride, centuries of rich culture, and the boundless creativity of the Dominican people.
Today, JetBlue connects four major Dominican destinations — the capital city of Santo Domingo, Santiago, the popular tourist hub of Punta Cana, and Puerto Plata — to markets across North America. The airline currently holds the title of the carrier with the largest number of routes linking the Dominican Republic and the United States, a position it has built up over its 20-plus years of service in the region.
Beyond revealing the new aircraft, JetBlue also made a major service announcement at the ceremony: this upcoming summer travel season, the airline will operate an average of 45 daily flights to and from the Dominican Republic, marking a substantial expansion of its already robust schedule. Alongside growing its commercial service, the company reaffirmed its pledge to continue supporting local community initiatives across the country that benefit Dominican residents.