JetBlue continues to optimize its network as it looks to trim its losses and focus on profitable routes. The carrier has already adjusted several of its route offerings this year, and the latest reports suggest that more route cuts are on their way.
JetBlue is once again on a cleaning drive and will drop several routes that are not making as much money as previously anticipated.
Most of these services are from the East Coast and some are also across the pond to Europe.
As reported by JonNYC, JetBlue will discontinue its seasonal New York (JFK) to London Gatwick (LGW) flight next year.
It will narrow down its focus to Heathrow instead. Gatwick, however, will continue to see flights from Boston Logan International Airport.
Paris Charles de Gaulle will also see a reduction in frequency as JetBlue has decided to drop its seasonal second daily service from New York.
In all, Paris will see one daily flight each from New York and Boston.
Several domestic routes have also been slashed as the airline is unable to compete with other airlines, notably legacy carriers, such as American Airlines and Delta Air Lines. This includes its service from New York JFK to Miami.
Other unprofitable routes that will be suspended include New York to Austin, Houston, and Milwaukee.
Some services are not being suspended altogether but are being shifted to winter seasonal. These include flights from Boston to Grenada and Phoenix, and New York to Tulum.
The airline has informed its staff internally about these changes and has also hinted at the possible transfer of bases to different cities for some employees.
According to Bloomberg, JetBlue said in a statement,
“Most of our customers impacted by these changes will be able to select alternate flight options themselves on JetBlue.com. Where alternate routes are not available, customers will be provided with a refund.”
JetBlue has been actively optimizing its network all through this year. My reported in September that the airline has removed several routes since the start of this year, such as Los Angeles-Cancun, New York LaGuardia-Jacksonville, New York JFK-Portland, Fort Lauderdale-Nashville, New York JFK-Detroit, among others.
The decision was made that more than 50 routes will be axed by January 2025.
JetBlue is busy identifying routes where it can squeeze maximum profits, and it wants to continue focusing on the East Coast, where it already has a stronghold.
The East Coast leisure network is high on the priority list for JetBlue as it continues “doubling down in the Northeast,” according to its Chief Executive Officer, Joanna Geraghty, sometime back.
The carrier is targeting $800-900M in incremental EBIT from 2025 to 2027 and is aware that its revenue growth has not matched the pace of inflation.
It had earlier also said that to counter ATC understaffing, which is severely impacting highly congested airports, it is investing in on-time performance and delivering consistent customer experience.
JetBlue is expected to announce several new routes in the coming days, including new transatlantic services.
