JetBlue to cut routes and park planes as it tries to stem losses
JetBlue will cut its route map and park planes in a larger effort to reduce expenses as economic uncertainty takes a toll on its balance sheet.
Joanna Geraghty, CEO of JetBlue, informed staff of the cuts in a memo Tuesday viewed by TPG. She outlined a number of efforts “to rein in spending and preserve cash.”
“We’re hopeful demand and bookings will rebound, but even a recovery won’t fully offset the ground we’ve lost this year and our path back to profitability will take longer than we’d hoped,” said Geraghty.
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The memo was first reported by CNBC.
JetBlue, like most U.S. airlines, has seen a slowdown in travel demand that has taken hold since January. Domestic leisure travel was the hardest hit, while premium and international travel remained steady. Although bookings stabilized somewhat in March and April, Geraghty’s memo suggests they have yet to return to their January trajectory.
Schedule and route map cuts
JetBlue will “wind down underperforming routes and shift flying to places with profit potential,” Geraghty said.
Since the airline unveiled its JetForward turnaround plan last year, JetBlue has exited 15 cities and dropped more than 50 routes. Some of the exits include major markets like Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport (BWI), El Dorado International Airport (BOG) in Bogota, Colombia, and Charlotte Douglas International Airport (CLT).
What JetBlue will cut next is unclear. Geraghty said further details will come in the “next few weeks.”
“While it’s always disappointing to end service it opens the door for us to find new routes to fly,” she continued.
JetBlue has already added four new destinations this summer: Norfolk International Airport (ORF) in Virginia; Ramón Villeda Morales International Airport (SAP) near San Pedro Sula in Honduras; Cherry Capital Airport (TVC) in Traverse City, Michigan; and Wilmington International Airport (ILM) in North Carolina.
Plans to add Halifax Stanfield International Airport (YHZ) in Nova Scotia to the airline’s map this summer were axed in May, according to schedules from aviation analytics firm Cirium.
JetBlue will also further reduce flying on low-demand days of the week, particularly Tuesdays and Wednesdays, and reduce the number of flights on routes where it has multiple flights a day, Geraghty said.
The airline had planned flat capacity in 2025 (or no schedule growth compared to 2024) but has not reaffirmed that forecast.
In conjunction with the network cuts, JetBlue will park four older Airbus A320s at the end of the summer that were previously scheduled for retrofits.
Premium investments continue
JetBlue is clear on one front: The investments it is making in its premium offerings are not stopping. It still plans to open its first-ever airport lounge by the end of the year and debut a domestic first-class product in 2026, according to Geraghty.
These efforts, plus JetBlue's new "Blue Sky" partnership with United Airlines, are all part of its JetForward program. The plan unveiled in 2024 is a series of initiatives aimed primarily to boost revenue in order to right the airline's balance sheet and produce stable profits in the future.
JetBlue has yet to realize the potential financial benefits of Blue Sky, which was only announced in May. The pact is unusual in that it focuses on a loyalty tie-up and skips the typical codeshare agreement where each airline places its two-letter identifier code on some of the other carrier's flights.
Blue Sky does create a number of benefits for both airlines: United returns to New York's John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) with slots from JetBlue, and JetBlue gains a JetBlue TrueBlue partner that gives loyalty members point redemption opportunities to destinations around the globe.
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There’s a lot to love about the Amex Gold. It’s a fan favorite thanks to its fantastic bonus-earning rates at restaurants worldwide and at U.S. supermarkets. If you’re hitting the skies soon, you’ll also earn bonus Membership Rewards points on travel. Paired with up to $120 in Uber Cash annually (for U.S. Uber rides or Uber Eats orders, card must be added to Uber app and you can redeem with any Amex card), up to $120 in annual dining statement credits to be used with eligible partners, an up to $84 Dunkin’ credit each year at U.S. Dunkin Donuts and an up to $100 Resy credit annually, there’s no reason that foodies shouldn’t add the Amex Gold to their wallet. These benefits alone are worth more than $400, which offsets the $325 annual fee on the Amex Gold card. Enrollment is required for select benefits. (Partner offer)Pros
- 4 points per dollar spent on dining at restaurants worldwide and U.S. supermarkets (on the first $50,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter and $25,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter, respectively)
- 3 points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with the airline or with amextravel.com
- Packed with credits foodies will enjoy
- Solid welcome bonus
Cons
- Not as useful for those living outside the U.S.
- Some may have trouble using Uber and other dining credits
- You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
- $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Add your Gold Card to your Uber account and get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an American Express Card for your transaction. That’s up to $120 Uber Cash annually. Plus, after using your Uber Cash, use your Card to earn 4X Membership Rewards® points for Uber Eats purchases made with restaurants or U.S. supermarkets. Point caps and terms apply.
- $84 Dunkin' Credit: With the $84 Dunkin' Credit, you can earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you enroll and pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin' locations. Enrollment is required to receive this benefit.
- $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card to dine at U.S. Resy restaurants or make other eligible Resy purchases. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
- $120 Dining Credit: Satisfy your cravings, sweet or savory, with the $120 Dining Credit. Earn up to $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, and Five Guys. Enrollment required.
- Explore over 1,000 upscale hotels worldwide with The Hotel Collection and receive a $100 credit towards eligible charges* with every booking of two nights or more through AmexTravel.com. *Eligible charges vary by property.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees.
- Annual Fee is $325.
- Terms Apply.