JetBlue extends London schedule cuts through October

JetBlue’s newly launched service to London will continue to operate at reduced frequencies through October. The carrier inaugurated the service on 11 August. It also announced just two weeks prior to that a reduction in flights for September.

Heathrow service is expected to remain at 4x weekly (Sunday, Monday, Wednesday, Friday eastbound, day later westbound) in October, copying the September cuts.

Flights to Gatwick will launch as expected at the end of the month and also run 4x weekly (Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday eastbound).

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The updated schedule gives the carrier coverage to London daily (double on Mondays!) and meets slot usage requirements at both airports.

With access to the US market still limited for UK departures demand for the route has been soft. That it is a premium-heavy configuration and business travel has not returned also does not help.

CEO Robin Hayes called it “frustrating”  in the Q2 earnings call, but the cuts are also very understandable.

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Thanks to JetBlue’s ever deepening partnership with American Airlines the schedule to London looks better than it really is. JetBlue placed its code on American’s JFK-Heathrow flights every day. American’s Boston-London flights also carry a JetBlue code.

Also unclear is whether JetBlue will have access to Heathrow landing slots after 30 October. That’s the final date of the current IATA slot season schedule and exemptions or temporary allowances for the winter season have not yet been allocated.

More on the JetBlue London experience:

• JetBlue’s Mint Studio to London: Most of the premium, none of the crowd
• JetBlue across the Atlantic: A compelling coach offering to London
• JetBlue’s London launch brings an unexpected disruption to fares
• JetBlue unveils Mint 2.0, business class cabin for London