As expected, JetBlue announced new service to London yesterday from Boston and New York, But there are still many unknowns including a London-sized elephant in the room.
JetBlue “intends to launch multiple daily flights from both cities to London in 2021 – the carrier’s first European destination.” To do so, it will convert an existing order of A321 for 13 A321LR (long range) aircraft.
Gary Leff is not impressed, noting:
- JetBlue will start flying in 2-3 years
- With indeterminate frequency
- To an airport to be named later
- Offering an as yet to be determined product
And I share his disappointment in lack of specifics. But I’m still quite excited JetBlue finally made it official (as anti-climatic as the announcement was). I am most impressed that JetBlue is promising to put downward pressure on premium prices.
Joanna Geraghty, JetBlue’s COO, stated:
London is the largest metro area JetBlue doesn’t yet serve from both Boston and New York, and we could not be more thrilled to be changing that in the years ahead. The fares being charged today by airlines on these routes, specifically on the premium end, are enough to make you blush.
This is incredible news for consumers. Incredible…even if we have to wait till 2021. JetBlue did exactly the same thing in terms of premium transcon fares when it first introduced its MINT product. I expect it to do the same thing here.
The London Question
I’m not concerned about the new seat or how many times per day JetBlue will serve London. But I am concerned about which airport. Gatwick is most likely and allows for a link-up with EasyJet at a future time to extend travel beyond London. Geraghty told employees JetBlue is also considering Dublin, Amsterdam, and Paris as well. EasyJet may prove an attractive partner, though now the focus will be on traffic originating in the USA.
But even with that focus on the USA, there are other choices to consider. London Stansted, thanks to Ryanair, has a bad reputation (at least this on this side of the pond). It’s seen as “low-cost” and inconvenient. And while the low-cost stigma is certainly real, it is hardly inconvenient for many travelers starting or ending in London. In fact, it is easier to reach Stansted by train than either Gatwick or Heathrow. I wouldn’t rule it out.
I said Gatwick is most likely in terms of JetBlue’s ability to secure slots, but I also would not count out Heathrow just yet. I have no idea where JetBlue would get its slots from, but it is a big enough airport that JetBlue might find a willing buyer at the right price, just as SAS sold slots a couple years ago (even back then, I was hoping it was JetBlue).
And then there’s London City, a small but convenient airport in the center of London. The A321LR is too big for that airport, which is a shame. Imagine JetBlue competing with BA once-daily Airbus A318 London City service…that would create an even more compelling product.
CONCLUSION
On the one hand, I don’t think JetBlue can make a wrong choice in London. But on the other hand, there are distinct pros and cons to each airport choice, even Heathrow. The challenge is in choosing the airport that will attract customers willing to pay a premium. That remains an open question.
I’m not sure where you get the idea that Stansted is easier to reach than Gatwick or Heathrow. LHR & LGW both have reliable and frequent express trains from central London. In comparison Stansted enjoys the very unreliable and misnamed Stansted Express service which certainly isn’t fast although it is billed as the fastest connection because all others are abysmal.
Equally Stansted is not a premium experience in any sense of the word on any front and given your views on the speed of immigration at LHR, well you have seen nothing – the EU line at STN does not move at the speed of the everyone else line at LHR.
“In fact, it is easier to reach Stansted by train than either Gatwick or Heathrow.”
COMPLETELY UNTRUE!!!
Stansted is the MOST DIFFICULT London Airport to reach by public transport. Heathrow, Gatwick, City, Luton and even Southend are easier to reach by train and public transport!!
I agree with Phil, my experience at Stansted was a nightmare. Horrible security, poor lounges, not enough space, difficult to get to Etc….
Not doing yourself any favors flying there. Especially if you are hoping to get repeat business clients in MINT.
“In fact, it is easier to reach Stansted by train than either Gatwick or Heathrow.”
I live in south east london. It’s an hour to Gatwick, 20 minutes more to Heathrow and nearly 2 hours to Stansted.
Where you are located (anywhere north of the river towards the Great Eastern Mainline) will make it “the fastest option” but not for a significant number of people.
Oh no! I never realize the A321LR is a bit bigger for LCY. I was secretly rooting for that route until seeing this post. Hopefully they will make the full announcement soon.
LGW has trains to various different parts of London with easy connections to many other places. The Stansted Express is only really useful for North East London.
Jet Blue has teased this announcement for weeks. Yet, the announcement was a non-announcement. It’s like they just phoned it in. No airport announcement, no concrete date — except a vague 2021, no update on Mint, and no announcement on local or regional partners for connections. That’s just bad. And why 2021? Can’t get they get something going for late 2019 or early 2021? Maybe La Compagnie should bring back flights.
PLEASE LAUNCH AN EMAIL SUBSCRIBE OPTION.
I’d love to see them do an all-Mint cabin flight. I’m not sure I’d want to cross the pond in a narrow-body in any other way.
There’s always Luton!
I agree that LGW is the most likely. LHR is possible later if they want maybe only 2 flights. STN is like what LGW used to be, the unwanted choice of US travelers. However, STN is not so bad. I flew there once.
I suspect Jet Blue didn’t announce an airport because is playing City, Luton, Stansted and Gatwick off each other to see which one offers the best incentives and deals.
They should offer no deals. City can offer them a deal. If you have an A318, you can land. Otherwise, tough luck. Maybe Luton can throw in a few billboards for advertising.
JetBlue has ordered the A220-300 which is the largest plane that can and has been approved for London City airport operations.
From https://simpleflying.com/airbus-a220-etops-approved/
“JetBlue, on the other hand, have ordered the larger version, dubbed the A220-300, which seats around 130-160 passengers. Although they haven’t indicated any firm routes for the aircraft yet, with this ETOPS approval in place, they could use it to launch their anticipated transatlantic services.”
Maybe that is why they are not starting until 2021 with flights
JetBlue, please launch…
JFK – TFS (Tenerife South) – DSS (Dakar) – WDH (Windhoek, Namibia) – CPT (Cape Town)