JetBlue expands into UK with new NYC-Edinburgh route, proposes codeshare with British Airways

New York-based airline JetBlue is setting its sights across the Atlantic Ocean with the launch of its first non-stop flight from New York's JFK Airport to Edinburgh Airport in Scotland's capital on May 22, 2024. The daily service, running through to September 2024, will operate on its A321LR aircraft with JetBlue's ""Mint"" premium class product. ""JetBlue has redefined transatlantic travel by introducing low fares and great service in markets dominated by high fare legacy carriers,"" JetBlue president Marty St. George read in a statement. The A321LR is a narrowbody aircraft capable of transatlantic flights, allowing JetBlue to operate the route within its low-cost airline model. At a press event, JetBlue chief operating officer Warren Christie said the airline is continuing to take on deliveries for the A321LR of which it has 13 on order, adding that it had taken registry of an LR aircraft on May 22, 2024. Christie added that it was either the eighth or ninth aircraft it had acquired from the A321LR order. Christie added: ""We also have 13 A321XLR on order... the first one is [to be delivered] mid-to-late next year."" When asked about potential future routes, Christie said there was ""no announcements"" but that there is ""more to come"" as it awaits deliveries. Christie added: ""There's a lot of markets that have potential for us, but we need more aircraft. As we get more deliveries of the NEOs and LRs and the XLRs, that's what allows access into these markets and gives us the ability to do that."" The issues surrounding the geared turbofan engines had resulted in delayed deliveries for Airbus aircraft, which had presented ""some challenges"" to JetBlue, though Christie said the airline is ""managing through"" it. He added: ""Airbus is a great partner, Pratt & Whitney is a great partner. So, we're very much in sync with adjusting our network plans with the delivery schedule. We're adjusting as we need to."" JetBlue seems to be furthering its reach into the UK with it also filing to the Department of Transportation a proposed codeshare agreement with British Airways on May 22, 2024. Christie said it would be ""limited routes, not a full network"" agreement. The filing said: ""[JetBlue and British Airways] have entered into a reciprocal codeshare agreement in which JetBlue will display British Airways' ""BA"" designator code on certain JetBlue flights... and British Airways will display JetBlue's ""B6"" designator code on certain British Airways' flights"". The filing added: ""Because the joint applicants intend to begin marketing these codeshare services in the near future, they respectfully request expedited treatment of this application and a waiver of the department's 45-day advance filing requirement for statements of authorisation."" In addition, Scottish minister for connectivity Jim Fairlie said at the event that it was looking to introduce a US pre-clearance service to Edinburgh Airport for flights to the US; a service which would no doubt boost the popularity of JetBlue's new route. Christie said, ""pre-clearance is more convenient for our customers"" and that JetBlue would ""certainly"" do what it could to help the process along. Though, an expert at Edinburgh Airport said it would not be a ""quick fix"" and would ""likely take time"" before it was introduced. Look out for Airline Economics' next issue where this story will be discussed in greater detail.