Subsidy for RIC to NY service sought

RICHMOND, Va. (AP) - JetBlue is asking the Richmond region to pay the airline a subsidy to restart its service to New York.

The low-fare airline dropped two daily flights from Richmond International Airport to John F. Kennedy International Airport. It stopped those flights on Nov. 1, saying the route had underperformed expectations.

The Richmond Times-Dispatch reports that ticket prices to the New York market have jumped up sharply with JetBlue's withdrawal. The city is Richmond's top air-travel destination.

JetBlue said the carrier was filling its planes but wasn't getting enough higher-paying business passengers. Airport officials say financial support for air service is unlikely to find support in the community, which would have to foot the bill.