Share The Article

Shall we hold a moment of silence for Spirit Airlines?

We’ll let you grab a candle.

While travelers are busy mourning their favorite yellow planes, another favorite is already moving in.

JetBlue is helping fill the void for at least a pair of former Spirit destinations not commonly served.

Kidding aside, Spirit is the reason I fell in love with travel. I’ll never forget my $19 flight to Chicago that made me realize the whole “travel is expensive” myth isn’t always true.

That said, many believe airfare will now live up to that belief with less budget competition in the skies.

But JetBlue is arguably the coolest airline in America, and at least in this case, they’re saying not so fast by offering to match Spirit’s Free Spirit members.

No promotional fares were announced for the latest launch, but these 2 Colombian getaways still make a strong case for swapping yellow for blue from here on out.

Don’t be denied boarding. Check the latest entry requirements for your destination before your trip.

JetBlue Launching New Flight To Cali 💃

Cue Biggie Smalls because you can soon be going, going, back, back to Cali, Cali.

Okay, not my San Diego Cali — but Cali, Colombia.

When I visited Colombia for the first time in 2015, I opted for Medellin, one of trendiest cities in Latin America at the time, yet even then, fellow travelers I met asked why I didn’t choose Cali.

The truth is I was by no means a so-called “travel expert” back then, but this city has long been held as a Colombian must-visit despite some security concerns.

The reason travelers love it are simple. It’s cheap, vibrant, and cultural to the point this inland city feels alive at all hours.

As the “Salsa Capital”, there’s never a dull moment. The problem is it hasn’t mean nearly as easy to get to as Medellin and Bogota.

Since Spirit went kaput, their Fort Lauderdale route is now underserved, but JetBlue is here to save the day, by taking over that very route:

• Launch date: October 15, 2026
• Frequency: Daily service
• Destinations: Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport (FLL) to Alfonso Bonilla Aragón International Airport (CLO) in Cali, Colombia

Quick note about Cali:

Circling back to my first Colombian escapades, Cali has had a bit of a sketchy reputation dating back to at least 2015 when I scoped it out, and current travelers agree, giving it a current ranking of 45/100.

Here is what travelers are saying now in real-time on our very own Safety Index tool:

JetBlue Launching New Flight To Barranquilla 🌊

Another underserved destination is Barranquilla, one of Colombia’s unsung beach destinations.

Currently, there are only 2 U.S. flights here since Spirit gave itself the pink slip.

So, why visit?

Barranquilla is the last major city that still feels like a hidden gem. Largely overshadowed by Cartagena sharing the same coastline and hotspot newcomer Santa Marta next door, closer to Venezuela, this urban sprawl of 1.2 million people also boasts a beautiful Caribbean shoreline in such places as Puerto Colombia and Pradomar.

Seen more as a river port city than a beach destination, this is one of those classic mixups leaving it to feel undiscovered.

Parque Isla de Salamanca is a destination unto itself, too — a mangrove-laced national park between Barranquilla and Santa Marta where wetlands, lagoons, and wildlife replace the typical umbrella-drink version of the Caribbean we typically seek out.

Picture vivid blue Caribbean waves, empty sandbars, and flamingos cutting across the sky without the selfie-stick crowds you’d find in Aruba.

While Barranquilla is so under-hyped, it didn’t make the cut for our Safety Index — yet — its trendy neighbor Santa Marta sure did with a score of 65/100, and they easily pair being just 2 hours away from each other:

It’s easy to double-dip your trip and visit both cities. Since you’re likely here for the beach anyway, you might as well squeeze Parque Nacional Natural Tayrona into your plans, as it’s one of Colombia’s bucket-list destinations.

Here is what to expect with JetBlue’s exciting new flight to Barranquilla:

• Launch Date: October 1, 2026
• Frequency: Daily service
• Destinations: Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport (FLL) to Ernesto Cortissoz International Airport (BAQ) in Barranquilla, Colombia

Sam Sears

Sam, our Senior Lead Writer & Journalist based in San Diego has visited 44 countries and written over 1500 articles with a focus on sharing his own travel experiences and shining a light on lesser-known gems.