JetBlue Airways recently made changes to its flight schedule this summer. As the airline prepares for what is expected to be a busy summer travel season, some routes have been added or will see increased frequencies, while others will see much fewer.
The majority of the airline's flights will be reduced, according to the most recent data. Along with flying less, the total number of seats flown has also decreased compared to the previous year.
Reductions across the board, but especially in the Northeast
Based on data from Cirium aviation analytics, more than 1,500 flights from 107 routes were cut this week from the carrier's schedule for July and August this year. Routes to and from New York City area airports, including Newark Liberty International Airport and LaGuardia Airport, seem to have the most significant cuts.
Stunningly, JetBlue will discontinue service between Boston Logan International Airport and Newark in July and August. Last week, 89 flights were scheduled, representing 8,900 seats from Boston to Newark, but as of this week, all have been cut. Last year, 54 flights with 5,462 seats were scheduled on the same route.
From Newark to Boston, 89 flights were also cut this week. 55 flights were scheduled on the route the year prior. In August, 88 flights were originally planned on both routes between Boston and Newark but have also been reduced to zero.
Flights departing LaGuardia have also significantly decreased. For July 2023, nearly 170 flights to Nantucket, Nashville, Boston, Charleston, Jacksonville, New Orleans, and Portland, Maine, have been cut. In August, a total of 177 flights were cut between the same routes.
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ATC shortage
In the Northeast, the reduction of flights is likely in response to the Federal Aviation Administration's (FAA) prediction that staffing for air traffic controllers would be less than 55% of the amount needed in the region. Simple Flying previously reported that JetBlue's CEO Robin Hayes acknowledged that the airline would need to make changes soon.
“We need to reduce flying and make sure we can operate what we’ve got.”
Other than Newark and LaGuardia, eight additional routes from Boston will see a cutback in flights. Boston to Pittsburgh will see the biggest decrease, with 31 flights cut as of this week for July and August. The same amount is accounted for on the return flight to Massachusetts City. Other destinations from Boston with flight reductions include Baltimore, Washington, DC (Regan National), Detroit, Miami, West Palm Beach, Philadelphia, and Richmond.
Reductions and frequency increases elsewhere
In the southeast, JetBlue will reduce some flights from Orlando International Airport. More than 21 flights from Orlando to San Juan, Santo Domingo, and Washington, DC, will be cut, representing a decrease of nearly 3,000 seats in July. The following month, 24 flights will be reduced from the prior year on the same routes, reducing 3,268 seats.
Several routes will, however, see an increase in frequencies this summer. From Boston, those routes include Buffalo with four flights, and Southwest Florida International Airport (RSW) with 27 flights. Orlando will see an increase in flights to Nassau, with eight flights in July.
In August, Boston to Buffalo frequencies will increase to 5 flights from the year prior, while Richmond will see an additional flight and RSW with 26 flights. From Orlando to Nassau, 10 flights will be added from August 2022.
Source: Cirium