JetBlue will launch their first highly anticipated transatlantic route between New York JFK and London Heathrow on August 11, 2021, followed by service to London Gatwick on September 29, 2021. JetBlue also plans on launching Boston-London flights during summer 2022.
On Wednesday (May 19, 2021), JetBlue announced the schedule for their highly anticipated first transatlantic flights. The carrier will launch service between New York (JFK) and London Heathrow (LHR) on August 11, 2021, followed by service from JFK to London Gatwick (LGW) on September 29, 2021. JetBlue also plans to offer flights between Boston and London from summer 2022. With the new routes, the airline hopes to disrupt the transatlantic market with low fares, new choices and incredible service. Roundtrip fares are now on sale with Mint® starting at $1,979 (£999) and Core fares from $599 (£329).
In Wednesday’s announcement, JetBlue’s Chief Executive Officer, Robin Hayes, said,
“The pandemic has opened doors to London’s two busiest airports, and we look forward to bringing customers low fares and great service at both Heathrow and Gatwick. JFK-LHR, the single largest international air travel market from the US, has long suffered from outrageously high fares for far too long, especially in premium cabins. We’re ready to change that with a price point and experience that will impress even the most discerning transatlantic flyers. We’ve always said that JetBlue would serve multiple London airports, and we’re pleased to have secured a path at Heathrow and for long-term growth at Gatwick, which offers speed, low costs, and convenient accessibility into Central London.
“Our low fares will disrupt the pricing of the major carriers and massive joint ventures; JetBlue’s presence in this market is going to be immediately noticeable to customers. When we launched Mint in 2014, we cut in half the cost of premium travel between New York and California, and now we’re ready to shake up the transatlantic market the same way, with Mint fares that will half the cost of a full-fare walkup business class seat on the legacy carriers. Heathrow is one of the busiest airports in the world, and our initial schedule is made possible due to temporary slot availability from the past year. We continue to work with the slot coordinators and the U.S. and U.K. governments to identify long-term pathways to continue serving Heathrow, as we believe the public benefit from true competition into this market will be extremely meaningful.
“We have an incredible opportunity to secure long term slots in London’s second-largest airport, and we look forward to building our presence there over the long-term. Gatwick will perfectly complete our London service, giving customers options as they plan their travel. Gatwick is an attractive choice with its low costs, speed and convenience to Central London.”
Flights on both routes will be operated with Airbus A321LR (Long Range) aircraft featuring 24 redesigned Mint suites, 117 core seats and the new Airbus Airspace cabin. During 2021, JetBlue will take delivery of three A321LRs which will operate out of JFK. Additional A321LRs scheduled for 2022 delivery will operate out of Boston.
Commenting on JetBlue’s new service to LHR, Heathrow Airport’s Chief Executive Officer, John Holland-Kaye, said,
“JetBlue’s touchdown at Heathrow as its first U.K. base is a ringing endorsement of the value we deliver for our passengers and the country. JetBlue is a fantastic airline, renowned for delivering top-quality service at competitive prices. That value for money mantra is also at the heart of what we do at Heathrow, and we’re delighted that we’ll be seeing their characteristic blue tailfins at the airport later this year. In the meantime, Ministers should help more people travel safely and boost the economy by moving more low-risk destinations – including the U.S. – to the green list as vaccination rates increase and infections decrease.”
London Gatwick Airport’s Chief Executive Officer, Stewart Wingate, added,
“Being able to offer our customers the low cost, high value experience from JetBlue, with daily flights to New York starting in just a few months, is a welcome addition to the choice of airlines and destinations which Gatwick currently has. Equally we look forward to welcoming travelers from the U.S. who are looking for easy, quick access to London, the South of England and beyond. We believe this is a start of an important long-term partnership for us and we look forward adding JetBlue flights to and from Boston next year.”
JetBlue is New York’s Hometown Airline® and a leading carrier in Boston (BOS), Fort Lauderdale (FLL), Los Angeles (LAX), Orlando (MCO) and San Juan (SJU). The airline carries guests to destinations across the U.S., Caribbean, Latin America. JetBlue Airways Corporation trades on the NASDAQ under the ticker symbol JBLU.
Source: JetBlue