JetBlue Airways is adding European flights as it takes its single-aisle planes to Barcelona and Milan from Boston next year. Daily service from Boston to Barcelona is expected to debut on April 16. And by May 11, passengers can enjoy daily flights from Boston to Milan, Italy.
As U.S. airlines look to boost profits, airlines have been adding new international destinations that command higher fares and offer more premium seating options than their domestic routes.
Cutting Unprofitable Routes
JetBlue has been trimming unprofitable routes and shifting its focus to new destinations served by planes equipped with its Mint business class. However, strong demand for premium seating has contributed to a bottleneck in new aircraft deliveries across the industry.
The New York-based airline announced that its first lounge, set to open this year at John F. Kennedy International Airport, will be available to its trans-Atlantic Mint customers.
JetBlue’s first trans-Atlantic flight launched in 2021 with a nonstop route to London. Since then, the airline has added flights to Paris, Amsterdam, Edinburgh, Scotland, and Dublin from both New York and Boston.
JetBlue’s Barcelona and Milan Flights on Sale Thursday
For those looking to fly to Barcelona and Milan next year, flights go on sale Thursday.
The airline will rely on its A321LR long-range Airbus jets to serve the Barcelona and Milan routes. The Milan flights will be the longest in JetBlue’s current network. The westbound flight will take around nine hours. On the other hand, the eastbound flight will take approximately seven hours and 45 minutes, according to its spokesperson. However, times may vary depending on factors including weather conditions.
The A321LR carries fewer customers than larger twin-aisle aircraft like the Boeing 777, but it is cheaper to operate, requiring less fuel and lower overall costs. American Airlines is also looking to debut its Airbus A321XLR in December. The aircraft will eventually be used for American’s Edinburgh flights departing from both its New York and Philadelphia hubs.
