PORTLAND (AP) – A new airline that will begin serving the Portland International Jetport this summer gives airport officials something they have been seeking: a budget airline serving Maine’s largest city.

Independence Airlines said Wednesday it will begin service between Portland and Dulles International Airport in northern Virginia next month.

By September, the airline will be serving 35 cities from New York to Florida.

Jeff Monroe, Portland’s transportation director, said the new service will force other airlines to lower their prices to remain competitive.

For example, Independence Airlines is offering one-way tickets from Portland to Dulles for $69, which is far less than those offered by other airlines. Monroe expects similar savings on flights to the other cities.

Lower prices from Portland will reduce the number of travelers who go to Manchester, N.H., and Boston in search of cheaper flights, he said. Manchester is already home to low-cost carrier Southwest Airlines.

“The price is going to be competitive and the convenience factor will be the deciding factor here,” Monroe said Wednesday.

Among the cities being served are Atlanta, Boston, Chicago and New York, in addition to Portland. There will be service to other smaller markets as well, including Norfolk, Va.; Jacksonville, Fla.; and Charleston, S.C.

Independence Air used to be known as Atlantic Coast Airlines, which operated commuter flights for United and Delta. Service to the revamped airline’s destinations will begin on a staggered schedule.

Independence Air will begin flying to six cities on June 16, adding a handful of other cities each week through August. Service to Portland International Jetport begins on June 23.

AP-ES-05-19-04 1449EDT