JetBlue Adds 7 New Cities, Expands Partnership with American Airlines

by Max Prosperi

The JetBlue-American Airlines partnership is set to grow substantially over the next year. Today, both JetBlue and American announced several new routes and increased service in some existing markets. JetBlue will add 7 new cities to its network while American will add new routes from key markets in the Northeast including new nonstop service between New York City and New Dehli, India. Here are the highlights of today’s joint announcements.

JetBlue Expands to 7 New Cities, Increases Existing Service in Select Markets

JetBlue is set to grow its North American footprint. Beginning this October through Summer 2022, JetBlue will commence service to 7 new cities throughout the United States, Canada, and Mexico. Kansas City, MO, San Antonio, TX, Milwaukee, WI, Asheville, NC, Vancouver, Puerto Vallarta, and San Pedro Sula, Honduras will soon be added to JetBlue’s route map.

JetBlue’s New Destinations

None of these new destinations have been loaded into JetBlue’s schedule. Unfortunately, since these destinations have yet to be loaded, the exact frequencies, departure and arrival times, and aircraft are not yet known.

Departure CityArrival CityService Begins
BostonAsheville, NC (AVL)Summer 2022, Seasonal
BostonKansas City, MO (MCI)2nd Quarter 2022
New York-JFKKansas City, MO (MCI)2nd Quarter 2022
BostonMilwaukee, WI (MKE)2nd Quarter 2022
New York-JFKMilwaukee, WI (MKE)2nd Quarter 2022
New York-JFKPuerto Vallarta (PVR)1st Quarter 2022
BostonSan Antonio, TX (SAT)October 2021
New York-JFKSan Antonio, TX (SAT)October 2021
New York-JFKSan Pedro Sula, (SAP)December 2021
BostonVancouver (YVR)Summer 2022, Seasonal
New York-JFKVancouver (YVR)Summer 2022

In addition to 7 new cities, JetBlue will increase service in some of its existing markets. Both JetBlue and American Airlines will add flights from New York-LaGuardia. JetBlue will add service between New York-LaGuardia and the following markets:

Departure CityArrival CityService Begins
New York-LaGuardiaJacksonville, FL (JAX)October 2021
New York-LaGuardiaNashville, TN (BNA)2nd Quarter 2022
New York-LaGuardiaNew Orleans, LA (MSY)1st Quarter 2022
New York-LaGuardiaPortland, ME (PWM)Summer 2022
New York-LaGuardiaSarasota, FL (SRQ)October 2021
New York-LaGuardiaSavannah, GAOctober 2021
JetBlue announces 7 new destinations and increased service from its hubs in the Northeast

JetBlue announced that it will fly to 7 new destinations in the US, Canada, and Mexico. (Image courtesy of JetBlue Airways)

JetBlue also announced plans to increase service on some of its existing New York-LaGuardia routes. The following routes will see increased frequencies and additional capacity:

Departure CityArrival City
New York-LaGuardiaCharleston, SC (CHS)
New York-LaGuardiaFort Lauderdale, FL (FLL)
New York-LaGuardiaOrlando, FL (MCO)
New York-LaGuardiaWest Palm Beach, FL (PBI)
New York-LaGuardiaFort Meyers, FL (RSW)
New York-LaGuardiaTampa, FL (TPA)

American Airlines Adds New Routes from Boston and LaGuardia, Announces New York to India

JetBlue’s announcement came alongside a similar announcement from partner airline, American Airlines. American announced 3 new routes from Boston to cities across the United States and Canada. The airline also announced new nonstop service from New York-JFK to New Dehli, India. Finally, American will increase its presence at New York-LaGuardia alongside JetBlue with both airlines increasing service at the airport. American’s increased presence in both New York City and Boston is part of the airline’s Northeast Alliance with JetBlue.

American’s Growing Presence at Boston-Logan

JetBlue is currently the largest carrier at Boston-Logan International Airport with American Airlines a distant second. However, in recent years, Delta Air Lines has significantly increased its presence in Boston with the airline carrying nearly the same number of passengers as American Airlines. However, the JetBlue-American Airlines partnership aims to fend off increased competition. As a result, American will increase its presence at Boston-Logan International Airport adding the following routes:

BostonCincinnati, OH (CVG)Begins November 2nd, Operated by American Eagle
BostonSt. Louis, MO (STL)Begins November 2nd
BostonToronto (YYZ)Begins November 2nd, Operated by American Eagle
American Airlines aircraft seen at airport

American Airlines will add flights from Boston to Cincinnati, St. Louis, and Toronto. (Image by Max Prosperi / Point Me to The Plane)

American Airlines Adding Nonstop Service between New York-JFK and India

In recent years, some passengers and industry reporters were alarmed at American’s shrinking presence at New York-JFK Airport. While American’s domestic service at JFK still pales in comparison to both JetBlue’s and Delta’s, the airline has announced several new international routes from the airport. Today, American Airlines announced that the airline will also serve New Dehli, India from New York-JFK.

  • Service begins October 31, 2021
  • 3x Weekly, Daily from November 17th to January 3rd
  • Operated by Boeing 777-200

Like most of the routes announced earlier today, American’s new service to New Dehli is not yet available to book.

American Airlines Increases Footprint at New York-LaGuardia

To complement JetBlue’s new LaGuardia services, American will add flights to three markets:

  • Houston Intercontinental Airport (IAH)
  • Oklahoma City (OKC)
  • Omaha (OMA)

Additional Developments

While the new routes announced by both American and JetBlue are the most significant takeaway from today’s announcements, there are some additional developments that should not be overlooked.

Boston-LAX to Get American’s Flagship Service

As part of American and JetBlue’s Northeast Alliance, both airlines announced that all flights between Boston and Los Angeles will be operated using Airbus A321s in each airline’s transcontinental configurations. American Airlines, which currently operates a mix of Boeing 737s and Airbus A321s, plans on having all flights between Boston and Los Angeles operated by the airline’s Airbus A321T (Transcontinental). The Airbus A321T features both Flagship First and Flagship Business along with a more passenger-friendly main cabin.

Side-by-side of American Airlines Flagship First and JetBlue Mint

American will operate its entire Boston-Los Angeles schedule with its Airbus A321T while JetBlue will continue to offer Mint Class on all BOS-LAX flights. (Image by Max Prosperi / Point Me to The Plane)

Pulling 50-Seaters from NYC, D.C.

Finally, American Airlines is pulling all 50-seater regional jets from both New York-JFK and Washington Regan-National (DCA).  In today’s press release, American Airlines announced that “Every flight on American from JFK, LGA and DCA will be operated with aircraft that feature at least two classes of service.”

The Bottom Line

Today’s announcements are part of American Airlines’ and JetBlue’s larger push to fend off competition in the Northeast U.S. While Trans-Atlantic travel is still suffering as a result of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, both American and JetBlue recognize the importance of laying the groundwork for when passengers return en masse. American and JetBlue are positioning themselves for a seamless transition back to Trans-Atlantic travel. American Airlines is also making a pretty significant push into the Indian market with two routes planned. Not to be underscored, today’s announcements also include some much-welcomed passenger-centric developments. These include the removal of 50-seater jets from New York City and Washington D.C. and the introduction of the Airbus A321T on flights between Boston and LAX.

If you’re hoping to book any of the flights announced today, you’ll have to wait. None of the routes announced can be booked yet. However, with some routes starting in the near future, it should not be long until flights launching in 2021 are opened up to passenger bookings.

Featured image courtesy of American Airlines

The responses below are not provided or commissioned by the bank advertiser. Responses have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by the bank advertiser. It is not the bank advertiser's responsibility to ensure all posts and/or questions are answered.

Related Articles

1 comment

DaninMCI April 22, 2021 - 4:37 am

Finally, Jetblue starting to fill in the middle of the USA. Now they need to add STL.

Reply

Leave a Comment