JetBlue has announced its plans to extend its transatlantic services, launching a new route between New York’s John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) and Amsterdam Airport Schiphol (AMS) later this summer.
The airline will also introduce service between Boston and Amsterdam subject to receipt of government operating authority. This follows JetBlue’s launch of flights to London’s Heathrow and Gatwick airports in 2021 and its service to Paris next June.
Robin Hayes, CEO of JetBlue, said, «This route is long overdue for some competition. For too long, the U.S. legacy carriers have locked customers in with very expensive fares and mediocre service. Just like we’re doing in London and Paris, we will bring fares down and improve the experience for customers flying between the U.S. and Amsterdam.»
A recent Dutch court ruling found that the Dutch government had failed to follow the law when attempting to reduce the cap on Amsterdam Airport Schiphol’s annual air traffic movements.
This decision has given JetBlue confidence in its ability to enter the market. Hayes added, «Our formula of combining a customer-centric experience and everyday low fares isn’t something you find in Europe. We’re confident that customers, Amsterdam airport officials, and the Dutch government will be delighted by JetBlue when they see first-hand the positive impact we can make.»
Flights will operate daily on JetBlue’s Airbus A321 Long Range (LR) aircraft, featuring 24 redesigned Mint Suite seats, 114 core seats, and the Airspace cabin interior.
New York – Amsterdam Market
By next June, the market between New York and Amsterdam will be served with 40 weekly flights per direction by three airlines, according to information obtained through Cirium:
- Delta Air Lines: fourteen weekly flights (7 on A330-300 and 7 on A330-900).
- KLM: nine weekly flights on B777-200, 5 weekly flights on B787-9 and 5 weekly flights on B787-10.
- United Airlines: 7 weekly flights on B777 (operates from Newark).