This airline won a 2024 award for its strong aesthetic

JetBlue Airways has achieved yet another remarkable milestone by receiving the Design Airline of the Year North America, 2024, award. This prestigious recognition celebrates JetBlue’s commitment to innovative design, thoughtful branding, and creating a superior travel experience.

Let’s take a look at what makes JetBlue a standout in the aviation world, and examine how the airline’s design philosophy continues to set new benchmarks for excellence.

A design philosophy that resonates with passengers

In a highly competitive aviation industry, standing out requires more than just operational excellence — it demands a deep understanding of what modern travelers seek. JetBlue has mastered this balance, focusing not only on functionality but also on aesthetics and passenger experience.

Known for its bold and refreshing approach to air travel, JetBlue has consistently delivered on its promise of combining style and substance to redefine what it means to fly. From its unique aircraft liveries to the groundbreaking Mint cabin, JetBlue has become a shining example of design-driven innovation in the skies. So, it’s no wonder that the airline was named the 2024 Design Airline of the Year North America.

About the Design Airline of the Year Awards

The Design Airline of the Year Awards are part of the TheDesignAir annual awards, a coveted honor in the aviation industry, highlighting airlines that go above and beyond in their design philosophy. The award evaluates various aspects, including:

• Aircraft exteriors: How well the livery represents the brand identity.
• Cabin interiors: Comfort, aesthetics, and functionality of the passenger environment.
• Passenger experience: How design elements enhance or improve the overall journey.

According to TheDesignAir, the awards rely on a judging panel, combined with public voting, to determine the winner of each category. In the 2024 awards, more than 20,000 votes were submitted.

Winning this award reflects JetBlue’s ability to seamlessly integrate visual appeal with practical functionality. Unlike airlines that treat design as an afterthought, JetBlue has made it a core part of its identity, from the moment passengers see the plane on the tarmac to their in-flight experience. The carrier’s recognition in 2024 is especially significant as it reaffirms the airline’s ongoing dedication to pushing the boundaries of design in aviation.

TheDesignAir states:

“Yet again JetBlue continues its winning streak, upholding its position as the leading Design Airline for North America. As well as the new livery, the airline’s strong design aesthetic across the entire passenger experience have created a consistent, much loved airline brand. With digital, personal and physical experiences, there’s an intuitive design language that flows throughout the entire passenger journey. 2025 will even bring the airline’s first lounges to the market and it’s this considered approach that propels the carrier above its regional counterparts.”

JetBlue: redefining modern air travel

Since its founding in 1998, JetBlue has been synonymous with innovation and customer satisfaction. JetBlue’s approach to air travel was revolutionary for its time – setting it apart from other low-cost carriers by offering perks such as complimentary in-flight entertainment with live TV and movies, free snacks and beverages, and spacious seating with more legroom than competitors in the same category.

In addition to these service offerings, JetBlue goes one step further to elevate the passenger experience by adopting a design philosophy that revolves around creating an experience that is visually appealing, functionally superior, and emotionally uplifting. Every element of the airline’s branding — from its striking blue color palette to its aircraft interiors — is carefully curated to reflect its values of modernity, inclusivity, and excellence.

The airline’s tailfin patterns, for example, are a brilliant representation of this ethos. With various unique designs, each aircraft becomes a moving canvas, showcasing JetBlue’s creativity and individuality. These patterns are not just decorative but also help foster a sense of connection with the brand, making JetBlue instantly recognizable worldwide.

The award-winning elements of JetBlue’s design

Iconic livery

JetBlue’s livery is more than just a paint job — it’s a statement. In June 2023, the airline unveiled its latest livery on an Airbus A321 with Mint (more on this later), as reported by JetBlue. Since then, new, similarly striking livery have been rolled out on other aircraft across the fleet.

The livery, which the airline calls its “…boldest, bluest plane. Ever.”, features:

• An all-blue body: allowing the aircraft to stand out in the air, on the runway, and at the gate.
• Accented winglets: a pop of vibrant color to complement the all-blue body.
• Tailfin patterns that extend to the body and belly of the aircraft: a new pattern — Mint Leaves — that flow from the tailfin to the body of all Mint aircraft and match Mint’s onboard touchpoints.
• Larger logo: to balance out the more prominent livery pattern, JetBlue decided to increase the font size of its logo.
• Belly art: with planespotters in mind, JetBlue aims to “spread the belly art love”, making its aircraft instantly recognizable from below.

The Mint cabin: where luxury meets affordability

Like the aircraft’s exterior, JetBlue spared no expense in setting its cabin apart. Its flagship Mint cabin is, no doubt, another aspect that makes JetBlue an award-winning airline. Designed to ensure optimum passenger comfort, the Mint cabin has redefined premium air travel, making luxury accessible to a broader audience.

Introduced in 2014, Mint was a game-changer, offering high-end features at competitive prices. The cabin is designed to offer the ultimate in privacy and comfort, with seats that are arranged in a 1-1 configuration. Mint is available on select transcontinental and international routes, providing passengers with a first-class experience without the exorbitant price tag.

Key features of the Mint cabin, per JetBlue:

• Fully lie-flat seats, ensuring maximum comfort on long-haul flights.
• Private suites for added privacy, with aisle access.
• State-of-the-art entertainment systems with high-resolution screens (up to 22 inches – the largest of any US airline!) and noise-canceling headphones.
• A mirrored vanity, extra storage, and even a guest seat and table in the spacious front-row Mint Studio.

These thoughtful design features ensure that passengers can enjoy a relaxing and luxurious journey, whether they’re traveling for business or leisure.

It’s not all about the looks

As seen above, JetBlue’s focus on design goes beyond aesthetics — it’s about creating a holistic travel experience. The airline consistently introduces features that prioritize passenger comfort and convenience.

And that’s not all; JetBlue is not just a leader in design but also a strong sustainability advocate. The airline has made significant investments in reducing its environmental impact, including:

• Transitioning to more fuel-efficient aircraft like the Airbus A321neo.
• Partnering with organizations to develop and use sustainable aviation fuel (SAF).
• Providing corporate customers with the resources and data needed to lower business travel emissions.

These initiatives demonstrate JetBlue’s commitment to creating a greener future, aligning with global efforts to combat climate change.

Other Design Airline of the Year winners

Including JetBlue, a total of seven (plus an overall winner) Design Airline of the Year 2024 awards were handed out to airlines across the globe, categorized under various regions. The winners for 2024 were:

The overall winner for the Design Airline of the Year 2024 was Etihad Airways, bagging the title for both the Middle East and globally. The airline scored an impressive 87.6 points, the highest among its peers, and ranked first among the world’s Top 20 Design Airlines of 2024.

Coming up close to Etihad, Qantas and Qatar Airways scored 84.4 and 84 points – a close competition that crowned the airlines with the Silver Award and Bronze Award, respectively. JetBlue came in at 75.7 points and placed 15th. Although the airline did not make it to the top three, it is nonetheless a commendable achievement to be among the world’s Top 20 Design Airlines of 2024 – a reflection of JetBlue’s achievements, design philosophy, and future-forward initiatives.

Conclusion: a well-deserved recognition

All in all, JetBlue’s recognition as the Design Airline of the Year North America 2024 is a testament to its exceptional commitment to innovation, aesthetics, and passenger satisfaction. From its iconic livery to its groundbreaking Mint cabin, JetBlue has redefined what it means to travel in style and comfort.

As the airline continues to push boundaries in design and sustainability, it remains a shining example of what the aviation industry can achieve with a focus on creativity and customer-centricity. For the Design Airline of the Year 2024 judges, voters, and loyal customers alike, JetBlue is more than just an airline — it’s an experience that embodies the perfect blend of form, function, and flair.