JetBlue will have access to Amsterdam’s Schiphol Airport to continue its flights from Boston and New York City for the winter season. And, unlike the slots it secured to launch the market this summer, the winter slots comes with “historical” rights, allowing it to keep them for future years, so long as it continues to operate.
On May 30, 2023, Airport Coordination Netherlands (ACNL), the slot coordinator for AMS, notified JetBlue that we will receive slots for the Winter 2023/2024 scheduling season to support our previously announced non-stop service from New York and Boston. It is JetBlue’s understanding that such slots will be eligible for historic status.
-JetBlue DOT Filing
The winter allocation, however, does not address the ad hoc nature of the summer slots. JetBlue can, of course, still apply for slots for Summer 2024 to continue the route. But in the same communication that granted the winter slots the Dutch regulator reiterated “that JetBlue will have no claim to historic status for such slots during the Summer 2024 scheduling season, and emphasized the uncertainty around JetBlue’s receipt of any slots for the Summer 2024 scheduling season,” JetBlue notes in a DOT brief.
Withdrawal of Complaint
With the allocation for the winter, and several months yet before the carrier will know about its status for Summer 2024, JetBlue has asked the Department of Transportation for permission to withdraw its complaint and pursuit of diplomatic action. But the carrier is also clear that “withdrawal of its Complaint should not be construed as an indication of no remaining issues at AMS warranting Department involvement.”
JetBlue will reengage the Department to pursue “intervention under the IATFCPA should the Dutch Government impose an unjustifiable or unreasonable restriction on JetBlue’s continued access to AMS for the Summer 2024 season and beyond.”
Fleet challenges
Separately, JetBlue also trimmed its Boston-London Gatwick frequencies for October 2023 and January 2024, likely to free up A321LR aircraft to operate the Amsterdam (and Paris) services as it continues to face aircraft delivery delays from Airbus.
More on JetBlue’s slot drama at Schiphol:
- JetBlue announces Amsterdam routes, with surprisingly good flight times
- JetBlue secures Amsterdam slots, for now
- JetBlue seeks slots at Amsterdam, possibly taken from KLM by force
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