JetBlue Airways' plans for the first non-stop, daily flights linking Reno and New York City have local business and tourism officials excited about the potential impact on the region's broader economy.
New opportunities range from filling hotel rooms and luring new business, to bolstering the area's image based on the sheer prestige of having "New York" and "nonstop" in the same sentence.
The flights between Reno-Tahoe International and JFK International begin May 28 — some as cheap as $450 roundtrip.
Chris Baum, head of the Reno-Sparks Convention & Visitors Authority, told the Reno Gazette-Journal it means "instant credibility" for northern Nevada.
John Farahi, CEO of the company that operates the Atlantis Casino Resort, says the flights will open up access to the entire East Coast.
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