JetBlue is returning to Ontario International Airport and ramping up service at Burbank and Palm Springs.
Ontario
JetBlue left Ontario in 2008 and is retuning precisely 10 years later.
The new route will begin on September 05, 2018 and features an evening departure from New York to Ontario and redeye return to New York.
| JFK-ONT Flight #355 | ONT-JFK Flight #354 | |||
| 7:12 p.m. – 10:39 p.m. | 11:59 p.m. – 8:24 a.m. (+1) |
Seats are on sale today and JetBlue is running an introductory $99/one-way special.
Burbank
JetBlue will add a daily flight to Boston as well as second daily flight to New York JFK from Burbank.
| BOS-BUR Flight #2339 | BUR-BOS Flight #2338 | |||
| 3:28 p.m. – 6:48 p.m. | 8:08 p.m. – 4:40 a.m. (+1) |
The second flight to New York will depart New York in the morning and return from Burbank just before noon:
| JFK-BUR Flight #2359 | BUR-JFK Flight #2358 | |||
| 7:43 a.m. – 10:51 a.m. | 11:41 a.m. – 8:05 p.m |
This will compliment the existing evening/redeye service already operating:
| JFK-BUR Flight #359 | BUR-JFK Flight #358 | |||
| 5:23 p.m. – 8:39 p.m. | 9:59 p.m. – 6:26 a.m. (+1) |
Both new flights will begin on September 05, 2018.
Palm Springs
Seasonal service will return to Palm Springs this fall. Beginning on October 10, 2018, service to New York will operate four times weekly.
| JFK-BUR Flight #359 | BUR-JFK Flight #358 | |||
| 5:23 p.m. – 8:39 p.m. | 9:59 p.m. – 6:26 a.m. (+1) |
For the 14 days around Christmas and New Years (December 20th – January 3rd), JetBlue will operate daytime flights instead featuring MINT service onboard:
| JFK – PSP Flight #149 | PSP – JFK Flight #150 | |||
| 9:25 a.m. – 12:39 p.m. | 2:00 p.m. – 10:04 p.m. |
Reduction in Long Beach
JetBlue is adding new service Steamboat Springs and Bozeman from Long Beach, but decreasing overall flights. In September, daily flights out of Long Beach will decrease from 35 to 23.
While JetBlue will remain the largest operator at LGB, this move underscores the tension JetBlue is exercising the with the Long Beach Airport Authority over its veto of allowing international travel at the airport as well as its fines against JetBlue for ATC-related delays.
CONCLUSION
JetBlue rightly recognizes that demand for air travel is growing in Southern California. As Ontario becomes a bigger player and Burbank continues to expand, JetBlue is now positioned to capitalize on these growing markets.
Long Beach should have known it would be punished for playing hardball.
JetBlue also announced new service to Steamboat Springs, Colorado from Boston, Ft. Lauderdale, and Long Beach. You can read the press release here.
image: Tomás Del Coro / FLICKR CC 2.0
Will these planes have a Mint cabin?
No MINT from BUR or ONT.
Long Beach’s relationship with its airport is an embarrassment to the city. A few NIMBYs who knowingly bought in the flight path have stymied LGB’s growth for 40+ years.