Silhouettes of the front passengers of a JetBlue Airbus A321neo aircraft are seen on the apron tarmac docked at the passenger jet bridge from the terminal at Amsterdam Schiphol International Airport AMS EHM in the Netherlands.
Nicholas Economo Norphoto Getty Images
JetBlue Airways The country plans to add first-class seats in 2026 on planes that don’t have top-tier mint class, the latest move to win over high-paying customers and return to profitability.
All of JetBlue’s Airbus aircraft, except Mint, will have two or three rows of the airline’s lie-flat seats, domestic first-class seats, JetBlue President Marty St. George said in a note to employees.
“Since launching the Mint more than a decade ago, we’ve explored the idea of extending a version of it to the fleet, often calling it a ‘mini-mint’ or ‘junior mint,'” St. George said. He said Mint “can’t be duplicated on short flights,” so carriers had to come up with a solution for passengers willing to pay for more space on short flights.
“We’re keeping the rest of our ideas under wraps for now as we prepare for a 2026 launch. Let’s keep our competitors guessing,” St. George wrote.
In St. George, JetBlue’s former commercial chief, new CEO Joanna Geraghty returned to the New York-based airline earlier this year to help JetBlue improve profitability and cut costs. The airline is focusing more on its core markets in Florida and the Northeast and is retiring some of its Airbus aircraft.
The airline expects its ventures to generate another $800 million to $900 million before interest and taxes over the next three years, it said in July.
JetBlue has been a pioneer in the U.S. airline industry since its first flight nearly 25 years ago, adding perks like seat-back entertainment, free Wi-Fi and a business class to make flights more affordable for customers looking to get to the front of the plane. Compared to the large carriers that dominate US air travel.
The airline has been increasingly focused on finding ways to boost sales since its takeover bid Spirit Airlines and his partnership with it were blocked by a US judge in January American Airlines The contest was ruled by another judge in the Northeast.
JetBlue is making new cuts to a host of unprofitable routes, CNBC reported last week. It is also tweaking its European service, announcing a new flight between Boston and Madrid on Tuesday.
Adding better seats, available at a premium on standard coach, has become a focus of the airline industry as many leisure travelers have shown they are willing to spend more for roomier seats or other amenities such as airport lounges after the pandemic.
Tuesday, Alaska Airlines It said it will evaluate its premium seat offerings and upgrade some planes following its merger with Hawaiian as part of its global expansion plan.
JetBlue said earlier this year that it would build its first lounge.
