JetBlue service to Baltimore, some California airports now suspended until April
JetBlue Airways has been on a tear adding new routes, including some in unusual places, during the coronavirus pandemic. But it's not all good news for the country's sixth-largest airline.
The New York-based carrier will not resume flights to Baltimore/Washington (BWI), Burbank (BUR) or Ontario, California (ONT) until at least April 2021, each airport confirmed to TPG. In addition, PaxEx.Aero has reported that flights to San Jose, California (SJC), will also not come back until next April and that flights to Newburgh (SWF) near New York City and Worcester (ORH) near Boston are suspended indefinitely.
The suspensions come as executives at American Airlines, Southwest Airlines and United Airlines all say service cuts are likely without additional federal aid. The three carriers, as well as JetBlue, are all pushing for an 11th-hour extension of the payroll support program for airline employees that expires this Thursday, Oct. 1.
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"We need Congress to do their job," JetBlue CEO Robin Hayes told reporters on the extension effort outside the U.S. Capitol on Sept. 22. "Our crewmembers sit there and say 'if we did our job, why can't they do their job?'"
Hayes did not comment on potential service cuts without additional federal relief.
With or without aid, JetBlue has had to shrink to match the number of people flying today. The airline only plans to fly about half of what it flew a year ago in October, according to Cirium schedules.
These schedule cuts come as data from trade group Airlines for America (A4A) shows the number of flyers on U.S. domestic flights stood at just over a third of the number who flew a year ago during the week ending Sept. 20.
Related: American, United say flights to small cities are at risk unless Congress extends payroll program
JetBlue's suspensions hit both large and small airports. The only apparent connection is that they are all in large metropolitan regions with multiple airports. For example in Southern California, it is adding flights at its new Los Angeles (LAX) base while Burbank and Ontario remain suspended. The airline will end service to Long Beach (LGB) in October.
The moves beg the question of when a "suspension" becomes a "cancellation." At BWI, as Baltimore/Washington is known locally, JetBlue will not operate a flight for nearly a year, having suspended service to Boston Logan (BOS) on April 15, Cirium schedules show.
BWI spokesperson Jonathan Dean told TPG that the airport looks forward to "continuing" its relationship with JetBlue when asked when the airport would consider the suspension a cancellation. He added that the airline's sole route, Baltimore-Boston, is popular with business travelers that have yet to return to flying in any significant number.
Related: JetBlue wants to be No. 1 in Connecticut; adds Hartford routes to California, Las Vegas and Mexico
Baltimore/Washington is the busiest airport in the greater Washington region, which also is home to Washington Reagan National (DCA) near downtown and farther Washington Dulles (IAD). Since the pandemic began, BWI has expanded its lead to roughly half of the market compared to just over a third before the crisis.
JetBlue has added or unveiled dozens of new routes since the pandemic began. Almost all of them cater to holidaygoers by connecting to destinations with outdoor attractions, like beaches, mountains and national parks. Leisure travelers are among the only people flying amid continuing concerns of COVID-19.
Even with additional federal aid, JetBlue could keep suspensions in place at all of the airports except Worcester. The U.S. Department of Transportation allows airlines to suspend flights to select airports in multi-airport regions — including the Los Angeles, New York, San Francisco and Washington areas — under the air service rules. Worcester, though it is only about 50 miles from central Boston, is not considered part of the Greater Boston area under the regulator's definition.
A JetBlue spokesperson was not immediately available for comment.
Related: JetBlue to open LAX base, end flights to Long Beach in West Coast realignment
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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. |
| 3X | Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com. |
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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.