JetBlue to open LAX base, end flights to Long Beach in West Coast realignment
JetBlue Airways is giving up on its long-standing West Coast base in Long Beach with plans to drop the airport from its map and open a new base in nearby Los Angeles this fall.
The New York-based carrier will offer up to 32 daily flights from Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) with new service to seven western markets beginning Oct. 7, JetBlue said on Thursday. The new routes include flights to Austin (AUS), Las Vegas (LAS) and San Francisco (SFO).
The LAX additions come a day after JetBlue ends all service in Long Beach on Oct. 6. It has served the airport since August 2001 and maintained a base there since 2002.
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“As we step into October… we’ve got to be really flexible as no one knows what this pandemic is going to bring," JetBlue president Joanna Geraghty told TPG's Brian Kelly on July 2. While she did not mention it directly, the airline has indicated that will shrink as a result of the coronavirus pandemic.
The exit from Long Beach and build up at LAX seems an example of this, if one that many expected. In fact, if was anticipated even prior to the crisis with Cranky Flier writer Brett Snyder asking "Why bother keeping it as anything more than a spoke?” following the cuts JetBlue announced in January.
Since January, the coronavirus crisis has hit the industry hard with JetBlue slashing schedules by as much as 88% in May, according to Cirium schedules. While some flights have come back, the carrier still only to plans to fly about half of what it flew last year in July. Long Beach operations are down 85% year-over-year this month.
Related: JetBlue’s Long Beach network still a question after California route cull
“The transition to LAX, serving as the anchor of our focus city strategy on the West Coast, sets JetBlue up for success in Southern California," JetBlue head of revenue and planning Scott Laurence said. "We continue to seize on opportunities to emerge from this pandemic a stronger competitive force in the industry.”
He called LAX one of the carrier's "most successful" markets since it began flights to the airport in 2009. In addition to the new base, JetBlue is adding flights with its Mint premium product between the airport and Newark Liberty (EWR) on July 23.
JetBlue hopes to grow its new LAX base to as many as 70 daily departures by 2025. It will relocate its Long Beach crew and maintenance bases to the airport as part of the move.
The airline does not indicate how it plans to add terminal space at LAX -- a notoriously gate-tight airport prior to the pandemic -- for its expanded operations. JetBlue operates from Terminal 5 today.
Related: How will airlines rebuild their route maps after the coronavirus?
"This is stupid," Snyder told TPG on Thursday. "It's smart that they're finally leaving Long Beach. However, instead they've decided to go into one of the most competitive airports in the world on routes where they'll really add little value and I don't see how this works."
For example, JetBlue will join seven other carriers -- including West Coast leaders Alaska Airlines, Southwest Airlines and United Airlines -- on the LAX-Las Vegas route based on March schedules, Cirium shows.
The LAX base appears the latest in JetBlue's ambition to establish itself as a major player on the West Coast. Its last major attempt was a failed bidding war for Virgin America that it lost to Alaska in 2016.
In addition to LAX, JetBlue plans to continue serving Burbank (BUR) and Ontario (ONT) airports in the Los Angeles area.
Related: JetBlue announces 30 new routes, adds Mint service from Newark
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At this time, Long Beach continues to be served by American Airlines, Delta Air Lines, Hawaiian Airlines and Southwest. However, Delta and Hawaiian have both suspended flights through August.
Below are JetBlue's planned routes from LAX from Oct. 7.
Los Angeles
- Austin
- Boston Logan (BOS)
- Bozeman (BZN)
- Buffalo (BUF)
- Fort Lauderdale (FLL)
- Las Vegas
- New York John F. Kennedy (JFK)
- Newark Liberty (begins July 23)
- Orlando (MCO)
- Reno (RNO)
- Salt Lake City (SLC)
- San Francisco
- Seattle-Tacoma (SEA)
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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.