JetBlue boosts London network with all-new daytime flight from New York
If you want to eat breakfast in New York and have supper in London, JetBlue has a new option for you.
The New York-based carrier announced on Thursday that it's adding an all-new daytime flight from New York to London, launching on March 25, 2023.
The flight will leave John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) at 8:30 a.m. local time and arrive at London's Heathrow Airport (LHR) at 8:45 p.m. local time. The westbound service will leave at 8:25 a.m. and arrive at 11:40 a.m.
This new daytime flight will give travelers the option to spend an entire day working or enjoying entertainment on JetBlue's swanky Airbus A321LR before landing in London for a full night of sleep.
Traditionally, airlines operate eastbound transatlantic service at night — leaving the U.S. at night and arriving the following morning in Europe.
While these red-eye flights give business travelers the ability to work a full day in both cities, it comes at the expense of sleep — many flights from the Northeast to London take around six hours.
Even if you decline meal service on a red-eye flight, you're only getting around four to five hours of uninterrupted sleep.
Here at TPG, many of our reporters are big fans of the eastbound daytime flights to London. Perhaps the biggest downside is that there are limited connecting opportunities when arriving in London at night.
JetBlue's new daytime service will go up against existing daytime flights from the New York City area operated by American, British Airways, Virgin Atlantic and United.
JetBlue's new flight is enabled by a slot pair that the airline acquired specifically for the late-night arrival and early morning departure at Heathrow. One slot provides an airline with a landing or takeoff spot, while a slot pair is needed to operate one round-trip flight.
It wasn't immediately clear how JetBlue acquired these slots, especially considering that a slot at Heathrow can go for as much as $70 million dollars. When JetBlue first launched flights to London, it was operating with temporary slots acquired during the demand downturn associated with the pandemic.
Last summer, the airline picked up permanent slots at Heathrow, and now it appears that the airline has secured another pair.
While JetBlue is adding a new transatlantic service, it comes at the expense of one of the airline's daily flights from JFK to London Gatwick Airport (LGW).
You'll find JetBlue's full summer 2023 London schedule at the bottom of this post.
In addition to the New York service, JetBlue launched flights from Boston to the United Kingdom last year, and there are no changes to those two daily flights.
JetBlue's transatlantic network is also growing later this year, with the addition of flights to Paris-Charles de Gaulle Airport (CDG). The airline hasn't yet published a schedule or introductory pricing for Paris, aside from confirming that the route will launch first from JFK this summer, followed shortly thereafter with flights from Boston.
Nearly all of JetBlue's transatlantic flights are operated by the Airbus A321LR, or long-range, aircraft. The jet is outfitted with two Mint Studios, 22 Mint Suites and 114 economy seats, 24 of which are in an extra-legroom Even More Space configuration.
While some travelers may prefer a wide-body plane for transatlantic flights, JetBlue's single-aisle Airbus jets boast a bunch of amenities. The airline offers an extensive collection of movies, TV shows, live TV and other entertainment options, along with free, high-speed Wi-Fi, tasty meals and even a walk-up pantry bar.
JetBlue's summer 2023 London schedule
Note that all flights operate daily.
London Heathrow
JFK - LHR Flight No. 1107: 8:30 a.m. to 8:45 p.m.
JFK - LHR Flight No. 007: 9:00 p.m. to 9:30 a.m. (+1).
LHR - JFK Flight No. 2220: 8:25 a.m. to 11:40 a.m.
LHR - JFK Flight No. 20: 11:55 a.m. to 3:15 p.m.
BOS - LHR Flight No. 1620: 6:45 p.m. to 6:30 a.m (+1).
LHR - BOS Flight No. 1621: 8:25 a.m. to 11:21 a.m.
London Gatwick
JFK - LGW Flight No. 43: 7:30 p.m. to 7:55 a.m. (+1).
LGW - JFK Flight No. 44: noon to 3:15 p.m.
BOS - LGW Flight No. 2104: 6:37 p.m. to 6:35 a.m. (+1).
LGW - BOS Flight No. 1926: 12:15 p.m. to 3:02 p.m.
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