• 

  JetBlue

  IATA/ICAO Code:

  B6/JBA

  Hub(s):

  Boston Logan International Airport, Los Angeles International Airport, New York JFK Airport, Orlando International Airport

  Year Founded:

  2000

  CEO:

  Robin Hayes

  Country:

  United States

JetBlue has bolstered its foothold in London after securing permanent slots at Heathrow Airport and expanding its operation at Gatwick Airport. The airline has upgraded to a permanent daily slot at LHR and will operate an additional daily flight between Gatwick and New York.

JetBlue gains permanent slots at LHR

JetBlue has been granted permanent slots at London Heathrow Airport (LHR) less than a year after launching its transatlantic service between New York and London. The US carrier has gained a permanent daily landing and takeoff slot for flights starting October 29th, 2022, guaranteeing its position at the UK's busiest airport.

Robin Hayes, CEO of JetBlue, said,

"With permanent slots at Heathrow – the highest in-demand slots globally – we’re now positioned to provide long-term service at one of the busiest airports in the world. This is an incredible opportunity for a carrier like JetBlue as we introduce transatlantic travelers to our great fares and award-winning service."

The airline noted the support of the US Department of Transportation and Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY), the Departments of Commerce and State and the US Embassy in London in gaining the permanent slots.

JetBlue's inaugural transatlantic service launched on August 11th, 2021, with a daily flight between New York JFK Airport (JFK) and Heathrow Airport. The carrier operates out of Terminal 2, Heathrow Airport's newest passenger terminal.

JetBlue secured its London Heathrow slots in March 2021 after being denied five months earlier, with the lucrative slots granted on a temporary basis. The slots became available during the COVID-19 pandemic when most airlines were operating at reduced capacity.

The schedule from October 29th is as follows:

• Flight B6007 - JFK to LHR - departs at 9:05PM, arrives at 9:30AM (+1 day).
• Flight B6020 - LHR to JFK - departs at 10:45AM, arrives at 2:05PM.

Expansion at Gatwick

JetBlue will add another daily flight to its London Gatwick Airport (LGW) operations, taking it to two daily flights between JFK and Gatwick Airport and three between New York and London overall.

Once the airline's postponed Boston-London flights launch in August and September, JetBlue will offer five daily transatlantic flights.

Robin Hayes added,

"The US - UK air corridor is among the busiest in the world and to effectively compete JetBlue is adding more flights across the North Atlantic, growing from just one daily flight last summer to five by this fall."

From October 29th, the airline's LGW schedule will be:

• Flight B643 - JFK - LGW - departs at 7:47PM, arrives at 8:16AM (+1 day).
• Flight B644 - LGW to JFK - departs at 12:00PM, arrives at 3:04PM.
• Flight B63 - JFK - LGW - departs at 9:59PM, arrives at 10:22AM (+1 day).
• Flight B64 - LGW to JFK - departs at 2:00PM, arrives at 5:05PM.

Tickets for all London Gatwick flights will be on sale from today. JetBlue operates out of Gatwick's North Terminal and is the only US airline to offer flights to both LHR and LGW.

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Improved passenger experience

Select JetBlue passengers can also benefit from a more streamlined airport experience with the airline's Even More Speed' expedited security screening program at Heathrow and Gatwick.

This option is now automatically included for Mint customers, Mosaic customers and Mosaic companions traveling on the same reservation, passengers on a Blue Extra fare and those with an Even More Space seat.

JetBlue's transatlantic flights are served by the airline's new Airbus A321LR jets, which offer 24 Mint suites and 114 economy seats.

Have you flown on one of JetBlue's transatlantic services? Are you happy to see the airline expand in London? Let us know in the comments.