JetBlue drops Baltimore from route map, cuts several New York routes
JetBlue is cutting several routes – and dropping one city altogether – as it tweaks its route map in an effort to improve profitability.
The airline will end all service to Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport (BWI) on May 1. JetBlue also will cut or suspend several other routes.
The news was first reported by CNBC, citing an internal memo to staff from Dave Jehn, JetBlue's vice president of network planning and airline partnerships.
Other cuts include the end of nonstop service from New York's John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) to Portland in Oregon and San Jose in California as well as the suspension of flights from JFK to Milwaukee and Ponce, Puerto Rico beginning this fall. Also on the chopping block, according to the memo, is JetBlue's nonstop route between Westchester County Airport (HPN) in New York and Martha's Vineyard Airport in Massachusetts. Aside from BWI, the carrier will still serve those cities from its other bases.
"We can't fly everywhere we'd like, so we need to be highly selective about where we point our aircraft in order to turn a profit, support our overall network strategy, and offer a reliable operation," CNBC quotes Jehn as saying in the memo.
News of the service cuts comes just three days after the Justice Department blocked JetBlue's plan to merge with Spirit Airlines. However, JetBlue says the timing is coincidental.
"The changes we are announcing today have been in the works for nearly a month – long before we got the court's decision on our acquisition of Spirit Airlines," the airline said in a statement to TPG.
JetBlue said the cuts "are a necessary quick step to help return our business to profitability. All the routes included have recently underperformed our expectations and these changes come as post-COVID travel patterns continue to evolve."
Previous cuts: JetBlue cuts 14 routes, drops a city in big network shake-up
Additionally, JetBlue said the cutting of flights was also made "with an eye towards reliability."
"By removing some of our less in-demand flights, we will give our operation more breathing room as we plan for air traffic control challenges in the northeast," the airline said in its statement. "Lengthening turn times and allowing more buffer into the system will help get customers where they need to go, with less chance of delays."
Like all big airlines, JetBlue regularly updates its route map – adding new flights that it thinks will do well and cutting others that haven't lived up to expectations.
Maximize your flying: The complete guide to the JetBlue TrueBlue program
In addition to those regular adjustments, JetBlue's network has been in flux since its Northeast Alliance with American Airlines ended this summer – another court setback dealt to the airline by the Department of Justice.
While it was in effect, the alliance allowed JetBlue and American to collaborate on flights from the New York and Boston airports. In New York, where JFK and LaGuardia (LGA) airports are slot controlled, the carriers used some of each other's slots to build out their alliance schedules – something that then had to be unwound with the forced ending of the pact.
Most recently, JetBlue announced in October that it was cutting 14 routes – including some that it launched from LGA with American's slots – and dropping all service from Burlington, Vermont.
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| 4X | 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. |
| 4X | 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. |
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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.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.