JetBlue's 80th destination is ... Worcester, Mass.

Ben Mutzabaugh | USATODAY

JetBlue announced this morning that the Massachusetts city of Worcester will be its newest destination.

JetBlue will begin flying from the Worcester Regional Airport on Nov. 7, offering one daily round-trip flight to both Orlando and Fort Lauderdale. The airline will fly 100-seat Embraer 190 aircraft on the routes. Connecting service will be available to Austin and San Juan, Puerto Rico.

Worcester -- about 50 miles west of Boston -- becomes the 80th destination in JetBlue's route map.

The news ends a yearlong courtship of JetBlue by Worcester, which currently is without any regularly commercial airline service.

"The enthusiasm of the Worcester community and the warm reception with which we've been met has been tremendous," JetBlue CEO Dave Barger says in a release. "The addition of Worcester to our growing network speaks to our commitment to serve the great people of New England and we look forward to a long relationship with the city of Worcester and to future growth in this region."

The Boston Globe writes JetBlue's flights will be "the first regularly scheduled passenger service at the beleaguered airport since Direct Air shut down a year ago."

The Globe notes "the Worcester airport has faced a number of challenges, including fog, outdated landing systems, and a road to the airport that winds through five miles of city streets, and has had trouble retaining airlines in recent years."

As recently as 2001, the airline had service on four different carriers, including on the regional partners of American, Delta and US Airways as well as a small carrier that attempted to revive the Pan Am name. By 2003, all had ended service at Worcester.

Worcester remained plagued by on-again, off-again service until Direct Air arrived in 2008. But that company's abrupt shutdown in 2012 left thousands of passengers stranded at airports across the USA, including in Worcester.

The Massachusetts Port Authority, which owns the Worcester airport, is giving JetBlue a $275,000 break on airport fees and charges for two years, along with $150,000 worth of free marketing.

The state has been investing almost $9 million in the airport since Massport took it over from the city in 2010.

The agency announced last month that it will add a parallel taxiway and install a new instrument landing system at Worcester.

Worcester gives travelers a less-crowded alternative to Boston's Logan International Airport.

At its peak in 1989, the Worcester airport served more than 340,000 people and had four commercial carriers. But between 2009 and 2012, 250,000 people traveled through the airport, according to Massport.

A Massachusetts Department of Transportation economic impact study found that the Worcester airport contributes $51.5 million to the regional economy.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.