JetBlue announced that it will begin non-stop service from Boston and New York City to London. Service could begin as soon as 2021, the company stated in a press release titled “We’re Crossing The Pond!”
“Twenty years ago, our founders had a simple formula for choosing a new market – it had to be overpriced, underserved, or both,” JetBlue president Joanna Geraghty said in a statement. “London is the largest metro area 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,” Geraghty continued.
Customers will be able to enjoy free internet, inflight entertainment, complimentary and snacks and soft drinks, similar to what JetBlue offers on its domestic routes.
According to JetBlue, the A321LR flights will include the carrier’s new Mint service, which gives travelers on longer flights lie-flat seats and doors for privacy. Passengers in Mint seats are also treated to complimentary alcoholic beverages, 15″ personal seatback touchscreens, and over 100 DirectTV channels. Currently, flights with the Mint product fly out of Boston, New York, and Ft. Lauderdale.
It’s unclear at this time where in the London area the flights will terminate. The London area is home to several airports: London Heathrow, Gatwick, Luton, and Stansted, and Southend. Heathrow is one of the largest airports in the world, with over 80 million passengers traversing through it in 2017. Already Delta offers non-stop service from Boston to London Heathrow, and American offers flights from John F. Kennedy Airport to Heathrow.
“Part of the issue with Gatwick and Stansted has been about geography, but it’s also been about the quality of the schedules,” Jetblue’s CEO Robin Hayes told the Independent in March. “We’ve got to make sure we can offer schedules that are compelling for our customers.”
JetBlue ranked second-highest among low-cost airlines in the United States, according to a J.D. Power customer service satisfaction survey. Southwest came in at number one.