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JetBlue recently announced it is cutting flights across its network as part of an effort to restore profitability. Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport (FLL) will lose eight routes.
JetBlue executives said the the moves will allow it to redeploy its fleet in way that increases the number of flights on well-performing routes from JetBlue’s focus cities while also reducing flight delays and cancellations. Last year, JetBlue had an on-time performance of 67%, according to the U.S. Department of Transportation. The only airline with a worse on-time performance was Frontier Airlines.
Here are five things to know about the JetBlue cuts:
Why is JetBlue cutting some of its routes?
JetBlue’s failed $3.8 billion merger with the low-cost giant Spirit Airlines is the major reason. A judge ruled in January the move would hurt customers because of decreased competition. The two airlines have withdrawn their appeal of the decision.
Another factor is problems with Pratt & Whitney engines that JetBlue uses. It will have to take some of the planes out of service while inspections are done. As many as 15 planes will be impacted by the end of the year, according to Reuters, resulting in a shortage of aircraft.
What are some of the key JetBlue cuts in Fort Lauderdale?
Affected are flights to Atlanta, New Orleans, Austin, Kansas City, Nashville and Salt Lake City as well as Bogota, Colombia, Quito, Ecuador, and Lima, Peru. JetBlue reported that it will not resume service at New York’s Stewart Airport, where it last operated in April 2019. JetBlue flew from Stewart to Fort Lauderdale and Orlando. Stewart is approximately 60 miles north of New York City.
Even before the cuts were announced, JetBlue had been reducing its passenger count at FLL. From 2023 to 2019, nearly 20% less passengers flew out of FLL on JetBlue.
The good news for FLL is that JetBlue says it will increase service between FLL and the Caribbean, including Cancun, Montego Bay and Punta Cana. And it will add winter flights to Albany and Buffalo, Providence, Rhode Island, and San Juan, Puerto Rico.
What flights is JetBlue cutting at other airports?
Los Angeles will lose service to Cancun, Las Vegas, Miami, Puerto Vallarta, Mexico; Reno, Nevada; San Francisco; Seattle; and Liberia, Costa Rica.
JetBlue has reported that the new flight schedule will take effect June 13.
Other cuts include:
- New York’s JFK to Detroit and Kansas City.
- Orlando to Salt Lake City and Kansas City.
- Tampa to Aguadilla, Puerto Rico.
Will JetBlue’s cuts affect service from West Palm Beach?
Palm Beach International Airport (PBI) has not been included in JetBlue’s flight cancelation plans at this time.
From PBI, JetBlue flies direct to New York, Washington DC, Hartford, Newark, Providence and Westchester County.
It also recently brought back direct flights from West Palm Beach to Los Angeles.
More: JetBlue to cancel some flights out of Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood. Are more coming?
The resumption of that daily flight began Dec. 15 and continues through at least April, according to Joe Harrington, communications director for PBIA.
JetBlue suspended the nonstop route between West Palm Beach and LAX in April 2022 after nearly 18 months of service four times a week. JetBlue officials attributed the cutback to the high price of fuel at that time.
Are more JetBlue route cuts coming?
It is possible. The Los Angeles Daily News reported that JetBlue is evaluating deeper cuts beyond its existing expense-reduction plan that it says will provide savings of as much as $200 million by the end of this year. JetBlue has lost more than $2 billion since its last profitable year in 2019. The airline had to pay Spirit $69 million; Spirit shareholders have already received $425 million in prepayments from JetBlue.
Mike Diamond is a journalist at The Palm Beach Post, part of the USA TODAY Florida Network. He covers Palm Beach County government and transportation. You can reach him at [email protected]. Help support local journalism. Subscribe today.
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