JetBlue to phase out its smallest jet next year — but delay delivery of 44 new aircraft

31.07.2024 - 14:42 / thepointsguy.com / Ursula Hurley

The end is near for the smallest aircraft in JetBlue's fleet — one that's certainly seen better days.

The New York-based carrier now plans to phase out the final two dozen or so Embraer E190 jets in its fleet by the end of 2025, executives confirmed Tuesday.

The news comes despite revelations that JetBlue will actually lean more heavily on the rest of its existing fleet. The carrier detailed plans Tuesday to delay delivery timelines for dozens of new jets amid a push to return the company to profitability for the first time since the COVID-19 pandemic.

Want more airline-specific news? Sign up for TPG's free biweekly Aviation newsletter.

The E190 is easily the smallest aircraft in JetBlue's fleet, carrying 100 passengers in a two-by-two configuration — a capacity nearly 30% smaller than that of the Airbus A220 generally replacing the fleet.

JetBlue has 22 E190s still flying today, chief financial officer Ursula Hurley said on a conference call with analysts Tuesday.

The carrier plans to retire six of those jets by the end of 2024 and the remaining 15 by the end of 2025, Hurley said.

Sure, these jets have advantages — at least in the main cabin — over similar aircraft operated by the regional fleet of the "Big Three" legacy airlines. Even these smaller E190s on JetBlue boast the seatback screens, live television and free Wi-Fi that are staples of the airline's brand.

But the aircraft (and its seatback screens, for that matter) more than show their age nowadays.

Related: JetBlue TrueBlue program: Earn and redeem points, transfer partners and more

TPG flew the aircraft as part of a 2021 search to find the "worst airline seats in America," though it generally drew better reviews than some of its counterparts.

Even as JetBlue bids farewell to its E190 fleet, the carrier is tapping the brakes on new jets.

The airline announced a major shift Tuesday, revealing an agreement with Airbus to push 44 A321neo aircraft deliveries beyond 2030 — a deferral of nearly $3 billion in expenses.

It comes as the airline has battled subpar financial performance in recent years and as prolonged maintenance (stemming from an engine issue at Pratt & Whitney affecting numerous A320neo family aircraft) has complicated the carrier's future plans.

JetBlue expects to have an average of 11 aircraft grounded at any given point in 2024 — a number it expects will rise in 2025 and affect the airline (and other carriers) in the coming years.

"At this stage, we simply can't afford to continue taking delivery of costly new aircraft that may need to be parked due to engine availability issues," Hurley said Tuesday.

Pushing back those new aircraft deliveries will require changes in JetBlue's plans though, leaders acknowledged.

While not