JetBlue adds 2 new European routes: Transatlantic network reaches record 12

JetBlue has added two new European routes: Boston-Edinburgh (which was widely expected) and Boston-Madrid.

While the Scottish capital has been part of its network since May 2024, when it flew from its main airport of New York JFK, the Spanish capital is brand-new.

It marks the carrier's first time in Southern Europe, although it previously obtained slots at the heavily slot-restricted Lisbon.

However, like many carriers, it did not use them. The development came as it removed JFK-London Gatwick and halved the planned JFK-Paris CDG flights to daily, freeing up equipment.

Starting May 22, both routes will operate daily (JetBlue's standard transatlantic frequency). As it will no longer serve JFK-Gatwick, it currently plans seven routes from Boston to Europe, two more than from JFK.

The route will not use the 138-seat A321LR but the less premium 160-seat A321neo, with more economy and Even More Space seats but fewer in Mint. It is scheduled as follows, with all times local:

• Boston-Edinburgh: B61079, 22:29-10:10+1 (6h 41m)
• Edinburgh-Boston: B61080, 12:10-14:22 (7h 12m)

Spain is a new market for JetBlue. Curiously, all operators between Boston and Madrid will now use the A321, which is highly unusual for a long-haul market with two or more carriers.

JetBlue will deploy the high-premium 138-seat LR, while Iberia uses the 182-seat XLR. Next summer, the pair will have a triple daily frequency, the most on record. JetBlue's schedule is as follows, with all times local:

• Boston-Madrid: B62261, 22:25-11:30+1 (7h 5m)
• Madrid-Boston: B62260, 13:30-15:20 (7h 50m)

According to Cirium Diio information, the market has nearly always had just one airline. The exceptions were in 2017 (Iberia and Air Europa), 2018 (Iberia and Norwegian), and now 2025 (Iberia and JetBlue). JetBlue usually serves European airports from both JFK and Boston, so JFK must be coming.

Given JetBlue's well-documented woes, which have seen numerous routes and stations cut from its map, it was expected to decrease Europe's importance.

After all, it is a much more challenging and risky market than its core domestic and Caribbean routes from the US East Coast.

While it has started to shake things up, its two new links mean it plans a record of 12:

• Boston-Amsterdam: daily (summer seasonal; returns on March 30)
• Boston-CDG: daily (year-round)
• Boston-Dublin: daily (summer seasonal; back on April 17)
• Boston-Edinburgh: daily (summer seasonal; begins on May 22)
• Boston-Gatwick: daily (summer seasonal; resumes on June 12)
• Boston-Heathrow: daily (year-round)
• Boston-Madrid: daily (summer seasonal; begins on May 22)
• JFK-Amsterdam: daily (year-round)
• JFK-CDG: daily (year-round)
• JFK-Dublin: daily (summer seasonal; back on April 17)
• JFK-Edinburgh: daily (summer seasonal; back on May 22)
• JFK-Heathrow: double daily (year-round)

Notice that Boston-Gatwick resumes much later than other Boston-European routes. Gatwick is highly unusual as it now only has one route.

While there is no indication that JetBlue will exit the UK's second-busiest airport, it is possible.

By consolidating at Heathrow, it could simplify its London operation and reduce costs. However, given the airport's heavily slot-constrained nature, expansion there is unlikely.