JetBlue will make significant adjustments to its network structure, the airline announced Tuesday, as it continues its plans to return to profitability after several major strategic disruptions.
In an internal communication sent to workers Tuesday and noted through TPG, JetBlue’s vice president of network planning, Dave Jehn, detailed his plans to eliminate unprofitable or smaller routes and markets.
This is JetBlue’s second travel to highways and markets circular this year.
Effective June 13, JetBlue will withdraw from Kansas City International Airport (MCI); El Dorado International Airport (BOG) in Bogota, Colombia; the Mariscal Sucre de Quito International Airport (UIO) in Quito, Ecuador; and Jorge Chavez International Airport (LIM) in Lima, Peru. The airline has recently flown to Kansas City from John F. Kennedy (JFK) from New York and Bogota, Quito and Lima from Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport (FLL).
“These markets are successful and our airtime can be better used elsewhere,” Jehn wrote in the e.
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In addition, JetBlue will officially suspend service from New York’s Stewart International Airport (SWF) in Newburgh, New York, in the Hudson Valley. In the past, the airline flew from Newburgh to two Florida cities, though those routes have been suspended since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic.
JetBlue will also eliminate several routes that take flights absolutely from the markets, adding significant relief on its short-haul flights from Los Angeles International Airport (LAX).
From Los Angeles, JetBlue will end service to Las Vegas Harry Reid International Airport (LAS), Miami International Airport (MIA), Reno-Tahoe International Airport (RNO) in Nevada, San Francisco International Airport (SFO) and Seattle-Tacoma International Airport. . (SEA), Daniel Oduber Quirós International Airport (LIR) in Costa Rica, Cancun International Airport (CUN) and Puerto Vallarta International Airport (PVR) in Mexico.
The airline will continue to serve markets from Los Angeles, adding Palm Beach International Airport (PBI) in West Palm Beach, Florida; Buffalo Niagara International Airport (BUF) in New York City; Salt Lake City International Airport (SLC); Orlando International Airport (MCO); and Lynden Pindling International Airport (NAS) in Nassau, Bahamas, between the s.
The airline will also continue its premium transcontinental service to LAX from Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR) and JFK in the New York City area, as well as from Boston Logan International Airport (BOS).
The adjustments to Los Angeles routes come as the airline adjusts its plans following the completion of its proposed acquisition of budget carrier Spirit Airlines; This leads it to affect intra-Western and underperforming markets, Jehn said.
“We had hoped to increase our relevance to LAX by partnering with Spirit to better compete with the giants,” Jehn wrote. “Without Spirit, and without airtime and doors for biological growth, we want to refocus. “
The airline will go from approximately 34 flights per day at LAX to 24.
In addition, JetBlue will remove several destinations from its target city in Fort Lauderdale: Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL), Austin-Bergstrom International Airport (AUS), Nashville International Airport (BNA), Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport (MSY). ). and SLC.
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The airline will also terminate routes between Tampa International Airport (TPA) and Rafael Hernandez International Airport (BQN) in Aguadilla, Puerto Rico; JFK and Detroit Wayne County Metropolitan Airport (DTW); and MCO and SLC.
In the note to workers, Jehn highlighted the airline’s broader initiative to return to profitability and operational reliability as it shifts its strategy and faces various challenges. Among the headwinds are required inspections of some of its Pratt-powered aircraft.
“More than ever, each and every address will have to earn its right to stay on the network,” Jehn writes. “Some of the roads we used to use don’t make sense anymore. “
The elimination of those routes frees up aircraft so JetBlue can bolster its network and gain a greater presence on its “core routes,” Jehn wrote, which “serve consumers along the East Coast, to vacation destinations and VFRs in the Caribbean and along long distances. “distances. ” Transportation, cross-country flights. (“VFR” refers to places where other people stop at friends and relatives’ homes. )
As part of this, JetBlue will refine and redouble its efforts in its key target cities, Jehn wrote.
In Fent Lauderdale, the airline will make more adjustments soon, Jehn suggested. This includes moving some flights from several cities in the southeast to increase frequencies to destinations with shown demand, adding Cancun; Sangster International Airport (MBJ) in Montego Bay, Jamaica; and Punta Cana International Airport (PUJ) in the Dominican Republic.
It also plans to load more this winter at BUF, Albany International Airport (ALB) and Luis Muñoz Marín International Airport (SJU) in San Juan, Puerto Rico, some other target city.
In San Juan, the airline will add more flights to Orlando and Tampa, as well as Boston and Fort Lauderdale. This winter it will add more flights to JFK and Bradley International Airport (BDL) in Hartford.
In the note, Jehn cited the dissolution of JetBlue’s northeastern alliance with American Airlines, as well as the cancellation of its proposed acquisition of Spirit Airlines, as the force for the airline to reevaluate its network plans. The existing roadmap was originally based on partnership and merger. , giving JetBlue access to more aircraft and a greater presence in certain markets.
With the Northeast Alliance, JetBlue and American Airlines have introduced reciprocal benefits and codeshares on their respective flights to or from the Northeast, with the exception of transatlantic flights. This gave JetBlue consumers access to the vast U. S. nationwide network. At the same time, it gave Americans access, via JetBlue flights, to coveted takeoff and landing slots in New York and Boston. The alliance was blocked by a federal judge.
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JetBlue’s proposed merger with Spirit Airlines, which would have allowed JetBlue to absorb the cheap carrier and double its size, was also stalled following an antitrust lawsuit in federal court last fall. The airline had argued that the merger was the only way to achieve this. grow enough to compete well with major U. S. carriers (American Airlines, Delta Air Lines, United Airlines, and Southwest Airlines), which control about 80% of the country’s air market.
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On the other hand, the airline is also going through a transition period; Joanna Geraghty, longtime president, took over as chief executive following the departure of Robin Hayes last month. JetBlue also recently hired Marty St. George to fill the vacant position of airline president. George was most recently Chief Commercial Officer of LATAM, founded in Santiago, Chile, and previously worked at JetBlue from 2006 to 2019.
Since taking over as CEO, Geraghty has made the return to profitability and operational reliability the most sensible priorities, leading to expected adjustments within the airline.
“We’re completely focused on our biological strategy,” Geraghty said last week, referring to the post-alliance plan and merger, at an industry convention organized through J. P. Morgan. “Now, after spending 3 years to do those things, our purpose is to get back to the basics of the business. “
In Tuesday’s note, Jehn warned that “surgery” on individual routes and the network as a whole would be important in this plan.
“We are confident that the adjustments we are making today, along with all other ongoing earnings and charge programs, will set JetBlue up for long-term good fortune and, in the end, make us a stronger, more competitive airline that is poised to grow for years to come. “
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