Struggling JetBlue shuts down key Newark, – Business News
JetBlue is shutting down key operations at Newark and LaGuardia airports because the struggling service shifts assets to booming South Florida in its newest bid to revive profitability.
The Queens-based airline stated it’s going to nonetheless fly to these hubs, however plans to close its flight attendant base at Newark and its technical operations bases there and at LaGuardia this fall as half of a broader effort to cut prices and develop service in Florida.
JetBlue stated no workers will lose their jobs as a end result of the change and that affected employees will be capable of bid for positions or switch to different bases.
JetBlue is closing its flight attendant base at Newark Liberty International Airport as half of a broader effort to cut prices and shift assets to Florida. Getty Images
“JetBlue is making targeted schedule adjustments, ending seasonal service between Newark (EWR) and Los Angeles (LAX) and Las Vegas (LAS), to support growth in Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport,” the airline stated in a assertion to The Post.
The transfer marks one other retrenchment within the New York-New Jersey market for JetBlue, which has spent years trimming underperforming routes whereas trying to find a path back to constant profitability.
The newest reductions level to JetBlue’s growing frustration with the price of working within the New York area — significantly at LaGuardia, the place executives have complained that charges have soared following the airport’s multibillion-dollar redevelopment.
“We are much, much smaller at LaGuardia than we were four years ago because it’s a $40 airport for us,” JetBlue President Marty St. George stated in March, referring to “enplanement” charges charged per buyer.
“And the fountain is really pretty, but … I think people would rather have low fares than a really nice fountain,” he added, referring to the airport’s 25-foot water characteristic inside Terminal B.
Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport is rising as JetBlue’s fastest-growing hub following the collapse of rival Spirit Airlines. Matthew Tighe – stock.adobe.com
Public price schedules show LaGuardia’s touchdown charges have climbed steadily in recent times following the airport’s roughly $8 billion overhaul, making it one of the costliest airports within the area for airways to operate from.
JetBlue has steadily lowered its footprint there as prices have mounted.
Despite the cuts, JetBlue stays deeply tied to the area.
The airline is headquartered in Long Island City and continues to market itself as “New York’s Hometown Airline.”
In its most up-to-date annual report, JetBlue stated the New York metropolitan area remained its largest focus space, accounting for 118 nonstop routes and a 13% seat share throughout John F. Kennedy International Airport, Newark, LaGuardia, Westchester County Airport and Long Island MacArthur Airport.
JetBlue is shifting plane and assets to Fort Lauderdale because it cuts prices and trims operations within the New York area. Skórzewiak – stock.adobe.com
Still, Newark and LaGuardia have turn out to be more and more peripheral to JetBlue’s operations in contrast with JFK.
In 2025, JetBlue carried roughly 14.5 million passengers by Kennedy, representing more than 23% of the airport’s whole site visitors.
By distinction, the airline carried about 1.9 million passengers by Newark and 1.1 million by LaGuardia, accounting for simply 4% and three.4% of these airports’ passenger volumes, respectively.
The airline’s growing emphasis on Florida has accelerated following the collapse of rival Spirit Airlines earlier this yr.
The service has cited rising airport charges at LaGuardia following the airport’s multibillion-dollar redevelopment. Bloomberg by way of Getty Images
JetBlue is already the biggest service at Fort Lauderdale and has aggressively expanded there since Spirit ceased operations May 2.
Earlier Wednesday, JetBlue introduced that it might add more premium Mint service from Fort Lauderdale, together with expanded flights to San Diego, Los Angeles and San Francisco.
The service has additionally unveiled plans to launch 11 new locations from Fort Lauderdale and expects to operate practically 130 each day departures there this summer season — its most expansive schedule ever on the airport.
The Post has sought remark from the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, which oversees all space airports.
