JetBlue to end Newark to MoBay flights in October

Beginning October 26 this year, JetBlue Airlines, one of the major United States (US) carriers to Jamaica, will end its flights from Newark International Airport to Sangster Airport in Montego Bay as part of the airlines cutting of some 50 routes between now and next year.

JetBlue has targeted a number of non-profitable routes for cuts.

However, Minister of Tourism Ed Bartlett told The Gleaner that the Government is in discussions with JetBlue about route reductions to Jamaica.

“We are in discussions with them, and JetBlue will be adding flights for the upcoming winter tourism season,” Bartlett told The Gleaner.

He said that JetBlue has a 90 per cent load factor to Jamaica but pointed out that like other carriers, JetBlue is being affected by the non-delivery of new aircraft.

Bartlett admitted that the last three months have seen a softening in the number of tourist arrivals as growth levels have fallen, resulting in a contraction of seats to Jamaica.

“We are not the only country experiencing this contraction, but October and November are looking good. We are looking forward to a good winter season as we continue negotiating to get more seats,” he said.

Looking to optimise its network

As part of its forward strategy, JetBlue Airlines said it is looking to optimise its network and would axe dozens of routes next year to focus more on specific regions.

The airline has laid out a plan that it said it hopes will lead it to profitability and turn things around in a couple of years.

The airline said that to optimise revenue, it has been gradually removing various routes from its traditional locations in northeast US and new international services.

JetBlue services Jamaica from the US northeastern region as well as the southern region of the US.

JetBlue flights typically originate out of New York, New Jersey, Florida, and some Midwest states into Jamaica.

Some of the routes already removed by JetBlue from its network include Los Angeles to Cancun, New York LaGuardia to Jacksonville, New York JFK to Detroit, and Fort Lauderdale to Nashville.

“Overall, more than 50 routes will be axed through 2025,” the airline said.

Through the end of this year, the airline will also close 15 ‘Blue cities’ that have not been performing up to expectation.

JetBlue said it will be investing in core northeast and Florida locations and has refocused on its LAX footprint to identify and remove several unprofitable routes.

The East Coast leisure network is gaining more importance with JetBlue as it continues “doubling down in the northeast”, according to its chief executive officer, Joanna Geraghty.

Bartlett told The Gleaner that he is expecting more flights out of countries such as Brazil, Argentina, Colombia, Chile, and Peru.

In the case of Peru, new flights will begin arriving in Jamaica from that country as of December 1 this year.

Central Asia and Eastern Europe are also being looked at for new tourist arrivals to Jamaica, according to the minister.

Discussions are also ongoing with Turkish airlines about flights to Jamaica, he said.

“We are aggressively looking at new markets,” Bartlett said.

India is also being looked at for new tourist arrivals, and Jamaica will be participating in a ‘road show’ in that country in November.

editorial@gleanerjm.com