JetBlue cuts 20 routes, trims new Canada service, to boost summer reliability
While JetBlue Airways has been making news for its proposed acquisition of Spirit Airlines, the New York-based carrier is still trying to button up its own operation.
In recent weeks, JetBlue has suffered from multiple operational meltdowns that delayed and canceled thousands of flights and caused downstream impacts for days, inconveniencing thousands of passengers.
While the previous meltdowns may have interfered with spring break, Easter or Passover plans, the airline is trying really hard to avoid disrupting what's poised to be one of the busiest summer travel seasons on record.
To that end, the airline is scrapping 20 routes for portions of the summer as it looks to create additional slack in its schedule and avoid (as much as possible) a repeat of the recent operational challenges.
The hardest hit is the airline's Fort Lauderdale focus city, which is losing eight routes for portions of the summer. In terms of destinations, Cancun will see reduced service from Raleigh-Durham and Tampa.
The schedule changes, which are copied below, were first seen in Cirium timetables and later confirmed by the airline. In a statement to TPG, the airline shared that:
These changes will support operational reliability and improve schedules elsewhere in our network, helping to ensure we get our customers where they need to go during this busy season. The adjustments also scale back flying that does not make as much sense in the current environment of significantly higher fuel prices.
Even with these adjustments, we’re still planning for a very busy summer, including growth towards nearly 300 daily departures in New York – more than ever in our history – and we remain on track to grow flying faster than the big four carriers this summer.
Perhaps the most noteworthy cut is the airline's service from Boston to Vancouver. First announced in April 2021, JetBlue at the time made splashy headlines for its soon-to-launch Canada service. The airline claimed that flying to Canada was a "top request from flyers" and said that it would commence year-round service from New York-JFK and seasonal service from Boston.
The JFK flights are still on track to launch June 9, but JetBlue is now scrapping plans to fly to Vancouver from Boston. It will instead try launching summer seasonal flights from Boston at a later time, but there's no clear timeline.
As part of the cuts, JetBlue is also permanently exiting Montrose/Telluride, Colorado (MTJ).
JetBlue's operational issues have largely impacted flights to and from Florida and the Northeast. While many of the disruptions began with winter weather or thunderstorms, the airline's staffing constraints and overscheduled network caused a domino effect that led the airline to cancel nearly 10% of its entire April schedule.
During April, the airline's reliability hit bottom, causing some outlets, including the Boston Globe, to question what exactly is happening to JetBlue. The airline even ranked dead last on the Wall Street Journal's annual airline rankings, with JetBlue's operational reliability cited as a key factor for its poor performance.
The problems in April became severe enough that the Air Line Pilots Association, the union which represents JetBlue pilots, took the unusual step of issuing a statement blaming a specific mid-level executive at the airline, head of airports and system operations Alex Battaglia.
“Battaglia was moved to his current position of head of Airports and System Operations in August 2021,” the union said in an April press release. “However, since then, JetBlue’s reputation among its customers has plummeted.”
On April 26, JetBlue issued a press release detailing the changes that it would make to "restore crewmember and customer confidence for the upcoming summer travel season."
The proposed changes include accelerating staffing and training to support the schedule, addressing customer call volume and hold times and reducing disruptions due to maintenance.
Trimming the number of flights it operates is also a key element of the airline's plans. The airline first took a stab at reducing summer flights back in April, and it's now doing the same in mid-May. (Eight of the route cuts represent extended suspensions, as noted below.)
Whether the airline can reliably operate its schedule this summer is yet to be seen, but at least the airline seems to trying to give itself some slack.
JetBlue's 20 route cuts for the summer
| Origin | Destination | Effective dates |
|---|---|---|
Boston (BOS) | Rochester (ROC) | July 1 - Sept. 6 |
Boston (BOS) | San Jose (SJC) | July 1 - Sept. 6 (suspension extended) |
Boston (BOS) | Vancouver (YVR) | Will not launch |
Fort Lauderdale (FLL) | Aguadilla (BQN) | July 7 - Sept. 8 (suspension extended) |
Fort Lauderdale (FLL) | Atlanta (ATL) | July 1 - Sept. 6 (suspension extended) |
Fort Lauderdale (FLL) | Austin (AUS) | July 1 - Sept. 6 |
Fort Lauderdale (FLL) | Buffalo (BUF) | July 1 - Sept. 6 (suspension extended) |
Fort Lauderdale (FLL) | Nashville (BNA) | July 1 - Sept. 6 |
Fort Lauderdale (FLL) | New Orleans (MSY) | Aug. 1 - Sept. 6 |
Fort Lauderdale (FLL) | Philadelphia (PHL) | July 1 - Sept. 6 |
Fort Lauderdale (FLL) | Phoenix (PHX) | Aug. 1 - Sept. 7 |
Hartford (BDL) | San Juan (SJU) | July 1 - Sept. 6 |
Hartford (BDL) | Tampa (TPA) | July 1 - Sept. 6 |
Hartford (BDL) | West Palm Beach (PBI) | July 1 - Sept. 6 (suspension extended) |
Los Angeles (LAX) | Richmond (RIC) | Aug. 1 - Sept. 6 (suspension extended) |
Los Angeles (LAX) | Seattle (SEA) | July 1 - Sept. 6 (suspension extended) |
Orlando (MCO) | Nassau (NAS) | Aug. 1 - Sept. 6 |
Orlando (MCO) | Syracuse (SYR) | July 1 - Sept. 6 (suspension extended) |
Raleigh-Durham (RDU) | Cancun (CUN) | Aug. 10 - Sept. 6 |
Tampa (TPA) | Cancun (CUN) | July 11 - Sept. 6 |
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Why We Chose It
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.