JetBlue has announced a partnership with New York City that will create 5,000 new jobs in the city in 2022. The new roles will be available across the entire JetBlue operation in New York and include airport operations, ground operations, inflight positions and a variety of other roles. This is in addition to the already 8,000 people employed by JetBlue at airports in New York and the Support Center in Long Island.

JetBlue supporting economic recovery in New York City

This announcement is linked to proposals by New York City to welcome visitors back following the pandemic. JetBlue are working with New York City Mayor, Eric Adams, to invest in jobs and economic growth for the city. JetBlue will work with the city authorities to create a partnership to enable New Yorkers to develop the skills to fill new jobs. The Mayor recognizes that JetBlue is already a large employer and welcomes the opportunities that the partnership will bring to New Yorkers, stating,

“New York City is coming back, and we are working with our business community to invest in our people, restart our economic engines, and give New Yorkers pathways to quality jobs. Not only is JetBlue one of our largest home-grown employers, but the company is creating 5,000 new jobs in our city. I look forward to working with them on a new workforce partnership that will provide more New Yorkers with career pathways and opportunities in this critical industry.”

JetBlue Airways had fume events on flights, one notable event happened in January 2017 that became career-ending for Captain Andrew Myers, who was the pilot flying. Photo: Getty Images

Northeastern Alliance and JetBlue Vacations

In addition to the jobs announcement, JetBlue is launching an initiative to entice and welcome tourists back following the easing of pandemic restrictions. JetBlue Vacations is a promotional scheme offering $200 discounts to packages for those visiting New York City. JetBlue anticipates that the summer 2022 season will be the busiest in the 22 year history of the airline. The airline expects a peak of 500 flights per day arriving into New York. These are the cumulative flights operated by the Northeast Alliance, a partnership between JetBlue and American Airlines.

Aircraft at Newark Liberty International Airport in Newark, New Jersey
Photo: Getty Images

JetBlue demonstrates its commitment to New York City

The corporate headquarters of JetBlue is situated in Long Island City and the airline flies from each of the main New York airports - JFK, Newark Liberty and La Guardia. JetBlue has previously announced they are developing a new terminal at JFK, demonstrating long term commitment to the city. By announcing these new jobs in partnership with New York City, JetBlue is aiming to attract a new generation of aviation professionals whilst helping New York to attract visitors to the city, beginning with the upcoming busy summer season. The CEO of the New York Economic Development Corporation, Andrew Kimball, summarised this latest investment by JetBlue, stating,

"We are proud of the work our team at NYCEDC did to keep JetBlue’s headquarters in NYC and expand Terminal 6 at JFK. We believed if JetBlue would remain our hometown airline, it would mean good jobs for New Yorkers and that's what we are seeing here today with the promise of 5,000 new jobs for our families and communities. The combination of access to talent at all levels, creating a strong pipeline, along with New York City's culture of innovation and dynamism is a perfect draw for all companies to locate and grow here."