JetBlue Launching 30 New Routes, and the Return of Mint® to Newark

JetBlue is adding 30 new domestic routes to serve customers in markets where leisure and VFR (visiting friends and relatives) travel is beginning to show signs of strength. Markets chosen demonstrates a growing relevance in JetBlue’s focus cities; some destinations play into JetBlue’s strength in Florida with new point-to-point routes; and Mint flights between Newark and LAX/SFO have shown a significant demand.

“Coronavirus has transformed airline route maps, and as we begin to see small signs of recovery, we continue to be flexible with our network plans to respond to demand trends and generate cash in support of our business,” said Scott Laurence, head of revenue and planning, JetBlue. “We’ve selected routes where customers are showing some interest in travel again and where our low fares and award-winning experience will be noticed.”

With business travel facing a less certain recovery timeline, the new routes offer JetBlue the opportunity to generate revenue, bring aircraft back into service that would otherwise sit idle, and add more flying opportunities.

Mint: Garden State to the Golden State 

JetBlue will expand its successful Mint service in the broader metro area to Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR) with daily nonstop service to both Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) and San Francisco International Airport (SFO). Favorite Mint features: lie-flat seating – including individual suites with sliding privacy doors, tapas style dining, fresh espresso from the first purpose-built cappuccino machine for a U.S. airline, amenity kits by Hayward and Hopper, and dessert from local artisanal ice cream makers based in Mint cities.

Flights are on Airbus A321 with 10-inch television screens offering free entertainment, comfortable seats with the ample legroom in coach and power outlets at the seat. JetBlue’s self-serve station of free snacks, sodas and water is available throughout the flight.

Focus Cities with Florida Flying

The airline will launch new routes where there are small signs of recovery in leisure and visiting friends and relatives (VFR) travel. Adding more destinations in these key markets will help make JetBlue more relevant to more travelers and drive loyalty. Outside of JetBlue focus cities, the airline is launching several new point-to-point routes that play to JetBlue’s strength in Florida.

JetBlue will reactivate some temporarily parked aircraft to support the new routes. Like the rest of the JetBlue network, these new routes will be regularly evaluated. The airline will remain flexible, allowing market demand to determine how long a particular route continues to operate.

Summer Flight Plans

With the new routes and service announced today, as well as additional capacity added back into the July and August schedules, JetBlue intends to operate more than half of its typical capacity this summer to better match demand trends.

Additionally, nine temporarily closed cities and several summer seasonal destinations will reopen in early July:

•Aguadilla, Puerto Rico’s Rafael Hernández Airport (BQN)

•Chicago O’Hare International Airport (ORD)

•Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport (DFW)

•Houston Intercontinental Airport (IAH)

•Martha’s Vineyard Airport (MVY)

•Minneapolis–Saint Paul International Airport (MSP)

•Nantucket Memorial Airport (ACK)

•Philadelphia International Airport (PHL)

•Ponce, Puerto Rico Mercedita International Airport (PSE)

•Portland International Airport (PDX)

•Providence T. F. Green International Airport (PVD)

JetBlue will operate all new, non-Mint routes using its Airbus A320 aircraft that features ample legroom in coach; free Fly-Fi for fast broadband internet; complimentary and unlimited name-brand snacks and soft drinks; free, live DIRECTV® programming and 100+ channels of SiriusXM® radio at every seat.