JetBlue Slashes its Winter Schedule to London and Paris

10.05.2024 - 13:13 / skift.com / London Gatwick / Joanna Geraghty / Gatwick Airport / Marty St George / Gordon Smith / Airlines / Carl Icahn

JetBlue is making big cuts to its transatlantic network for the coming winter season. Analysis of new schedules shows almost one-third of its European capacity will be removed by the end of October. Notably, the changes are in addition to flights that were already due to be operated seasonally.

Three routes are affected, with London Gatwick hardest hit. The carrier’s daily service from Boston will be suspended from the end of September. Another casualty is New York JFK to Gatwick. The daily route is being cut from October 26. This will leave the British airport without any JetBlue service this winter.

Continental Europe is also facing reductions, with capacity between JFK and Paris being halved. From the end of October, the route will be operated once a day, down from its previously scheduled twice-daily frequency.

JetBlue confirmed to Skift that all of the above services are due to return at the end of March 2025. Operations to and from London Heathrow are unaffected.

Speaking at the Skift Global Forum in September 2022, Joanna Geraghty – then in her role as JetBlue president and COO – said transatlantic operations had been performing strongly. “Load factors have been through the roof, and I’d say it’s pretty tough to get a Mint seat flying across the pond.”

Many airlines choose to offer seasonal routes, particularly to secondary airports. For example, Delta Air Lines operates its own JFK to Gatwick service, but only between late March and October. Other JetBlue flights to Dublin and Edinburgh were already due to end for the winter on September 30.

The pros and cons of seasonal flying are not the main issue here. The bigger question is this: Are cuts to JetBlue’s previously advertised year-round flights a sign of weak bookings, or an agile company that isn’t afraid to make bold decisions?

One thing isn’t in doubt – the changes come as the airline grapples to restore its profitability.

Speaking earlier this year, Geraghty described the company’s “renewed focus”, adding that the carrier is “bringing more data-driven rigor, intensity and creativity than ever before.” Loss-making domestic routes have been cut and fleet renewal programs expedited.  

The change in strategy has seen movement in the boardroom too. In February, activist investor Carl Icahn gained two seats on JetBlue’s board after acquiring a nearly 10% stake in the company. Long-time executive Marty St. George also made a surprise return to the airline, taking on the role of president. 

According to data from Cirium Diio, the reductions across the three routes will see a net loss of more than 6,000 seats every week from the JetBlue transatlantic network this winter. Before these latest changes, the airline was due to offer an average of