JetBlue is planning to commence its international flight operations to London in the year 2021. The low-cost airline plans to go aggressively against its larger airline rivals to win their high-paying corporate travelers by offering cheaper air fares in the business class category. JetBlue has confirmed Wednesday that its Mint Business class intended for the corporate traveler will cost only a fraction of what other airlines are offering in this class.
JetBlue has been contemplating of introducing transatlantic flights to London since the last three years. Currently the airline has its flight operations in the Caribbean, Central America, Mexico, northern South America and the United States. The major US airlines: Delta, United and American with their European partners account for the major share of transatlantic flights from the US.
The low-cost airlines has not confirmed anything about the landing airport in London, however a former JetBlue executive, Henry Harteveldt feels that London Heathrow as a choice will be very convenient for travelers flying into London. The airlines plans to entice high-paying corporate travelers by offering lie-flat seats in its Mint Business class along with other new features like better food etc at affordable prices, for this purpose JetBlue intends to design new Mint cabins specifically for its transatlantic flights that will commence in 2021.
The airline hinted at operating long-range A321 planes from New York and Boston to London for its London service. JetBlue’s President and COO confirmed this move by saying “London is the largest Metro area that 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.”
An early report by CNBC that Jet had plans to make an announcement of its new service to London has led to an instant rise in its share by 0.5% in postmarket trading and the stocks surged by 4% on Tuesday.
