Ever since a federal judge blocked its effort to acquire budget airline Spirit (SAVE) for $3.6 billion at the start of 2024, New York-based JetBlue Airways (JBLU) has had to look for other ways to grow as a company and get back to profit from a string of troublesome quarters.
In March, the airline completely exited markets such as Kansas City and Newburgh, N.Y. as well as seriously cut down the number of flights it offers out of Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) — down to 24 a day from a peak of 34.
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In the next step toward trimming itself of anything not proving profitable, the airline announced what it bills as “significant network enhancements” in which it will cut all winter flights to London’s Gatwick Airport (LGW) and reduce its flight between JFK and Paris Charles De Gaulle Airport (CDG) to just once a day.
The move is an effort to scale back the large number of flights JetBlue launched last year amid a rush in travelers going between the U.S. and Europe post-pandemic.
JetBlue cuts routes but promises to strengthen presence with different ‘vibrant community’
In exchange, the airline plans to refocus its efforts on Puerto Rico and the Caribbean. The aforementioned “enhancements” include adding its Mint business class to a flight between JFK and the Puerto Rican capital of San Juan as well as adding new nonstop service to Luis Muñoz Marín International Airport (SJU) from places such as Rhode Island’s Providence, New York’s Westchester County and Cancun in Mexico.
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“JetBlue has been a proud part of the Puerto Rican community for over twenty years, and we're excited to deepen our roots with this expansion," JetBlue President Marty St. George said in a statement. “Our decades-long history with this vibrant community drives our enthusiasm to not only increase our service but also to strengthen our relationships and presence in the region.”
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More Mint class options are coming to flights out of these cities
With high demand from both sun-seekers and diaspora members traveling between the mainland, the U.S. territory of Puerto Rico has recently caught the attention of low-cost airlines. Earlier this year, JetBlue and Frontier Airways (FRON) followed each other with launching new routes to San Juan from cities such as Tampa and Raleigh-Durham.
Spirit Airlines (SAVE) , which has also long had a strong presence on the island, also recently upped the flights it run from the mainland U.S. from 11 to 16 in its own efforts to squeeze out competition in an expanding market.
Other plans JetBlue announced alongside the new routes include expanding its Mint travel class to flights to Phoenix from New York, Boston and Fort Lauderdale as well as adding it to its JFK-Vancouver route.
“Our customers repeatedly share their love for our award-winning Mint experience, which is why we're excited to expand this unique, premium service to even more destinations,” St. George said further. "We are confident that customers in Phoenix, Vancouver, and San Juan will appreciate this elevated service and the expanded travel possibilities that come with it.”
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