September 4th is the first day that JetBlue expects to have more flights than before the pandemic struck. Some 283 routes are due to operate involving 94 airports, with the A321 becoming more important than ever.
JetBlue is the United States’ sixth-largest airline, based on the April 19th to September 4th period. It has scheduled just under 125,000 flights then, down by 14% over 2019, analyzing OAG data shows. Internationally, it has risen from fifth place to fourth, with Simple Flying today revealing that it is one step closer to transatlantic services.
September 4th currently marks the first date when JetBlue’s planned flights are presently due to exceed pre-coronavirus levels. While only a very small increase, it is due to have 1,020 flights on that day, up by 1% over the figure in 2019.
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283 routes on September 4th
JetBlue is expected to have 283 routes on September 4th, up by 67 (24%) over the same day two years ago. That total flights are up by ‘only’ 1% clearly shows how frequencies have taken a big hit on more business-focused routes as capacity has been redeployed to leisure and visiting friends and relatives (VFR) markets, including new transcontinental services.
With getting on for five in ten seats (45%), the A320 will be by far the commonly used on this day, followed by the Embraer 190 (28%), A321 (26%) – and A220-300 (<1%). The use of the A321 has grown by one-third, with the type to be used on 29 additional routes. Conversely, Embraers are down, with a key part of their role to offer higher frequencies in bigger business-focused markets on the East Coast, which isn’t needed for now.
The A220, of which JetBlue has accelerated entry into service, is down to operate two routes on this September day: Boston to both Fort Lauderdale (three-daily) and Tampa (once-daily).
94 airports served on this day
Some 94 airports will be served on September 4th, up by a net of two over this day in 2019. Multiple airports will be served that weren’t then, such as Boise, Bozeman, Key West, Grand Cayman, Georgetown, Guatemala City, Hyannis, Miami, and Ontario.
Of all 94 airports, JetBlue’s top-10 by total flights will be as follows. Interestingly, Boston was number-one in 2019, OAG schedules data confirms, although only just.
- New York JFK
- Boston
- Fort Lauderdale
- Newark
- Orlando
- Los Angeles
- San Juan
- Santo Domingo
- Cancun
- Miami
Newark fourth; three new entries in top-10
Newark has taken Orlando’s position, with the New Jersey airport growing enormously, with flights up by 163% from its route map rising from nine to 37 on this specific day. Los Angeles has also grown well, with flights doubling from 19 routes added. This is from shutting Long Beach and transferring routes to LAX together with multiple new routes, including Liberia, Los Cabos, Miami, and West Palm Beach.
Santo Domingo, Cancun, and Miami have entered the top-10, displacing Washington National, Long Beach, and West Palm Beach. Cancun ranked 40th on September 4th, 2019, with four daily flights; now it’ll be ninth with 16. On this day, Cancun will have 13 routes, up from three, with the likes of Hartford, Sacramento, and Tampa added.
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