JetBlue will fly to Paris from New York and Boston beginning summer time 2023

JetBlue has lastly introduced its long-awaited second vacation spot in Europe.

The New York-based service will function flights from New York’s John F. Kennedy Worldwide Airport (JFK) to Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport (CDG) beginning in summer time 2023, with flights from Boston to Paris following shortly after, the airline confirmed to TPG.

The airline didn’t share begin dates or present particulars concerning schedules or timing.

The announcement comes greater than three years after JetBlue first introduced its plans to function transatlantic flights with service from New York and Boston to London. Flights between JFK and London started final yr, whereas the Boston service debuted this previous August after a delay brought on by staffing and provide chain constraints, the airline stated.

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In an August interview with TPG, JetBlue CEO Robin Hayes confirmed that the airline would announce the second European vacation spot by the tip of this yr, with service set to begin subsequent summer time.

“It will be introduced within the subsequent couple of months,” he stated. “As a result of you have to give folks discover to e-book it.”

He famous on the time that the airline deliberate to fly to the brand new metropolis from each New York and Boston, however must begin with one earlier than the opposite.

“The groups taking a look at a variety of totally different choices,” he stated. “We’ll fly each [JFK and Boston], however we now have to begin with one.”

JetBlue has teased the pending announcement a number of instances however has in any other case been brief on particulars, with supply delays from Airbus — together with rival Boeing — persevering with to stymie community planners throughout the airline trade.

JetBlue makes use of Airbus A321LR extended-range plane to function its transatlantic routes, and was pressured earlier this yr to push its Boston-London inaugural again a month because of the plane delays.

“We had deliberate it conservatively,” Hayes stated in August. “And even that, because it turned out, wasn’t conservatively sufficient.”

With the newest supply slots scheduled, nevertheless, JetBlue is in a greater place to plan its transatlantic enlargement.

The airline is about to finish 2022 with six A321LRs, and expects to obtain a complete of seven throughout 2023 and 2024. It has a further 13 Airbus A321XLR plane on order, which incorporates a additional prolonged vary, with deliveries deliberate to start in 2024.

JetBlue has beforehand stated it was interested by penetrating deeper into Europe as its long-range, narrow-body fleet grows. In October 2021, airline President Joanna Geraghty cited the XLR as opening extra choices throughout the continent.

“That can give us better entry into central and Japanese Europe,” Geraghty advised TPG on the time.

On the time, she stated that the airline deliberate to proceed specializing in its hub cities for its European service, somewhat than trying to different U.S. cities inside its community.

“For now, it’s New York and Boston,” she stated in October. “Whether or not that would prolong to different locations? Presumably. However when you consider the LR and the efficiency vary, New York and Boston are kind of the candy spots for that plane.”

With a spread of 4,000 nautical miles, the A321LR might attain a number of prime European locations from New York or Boston. They embody Dublin, Reykjavik, Paris, Amsterdam, Lisbon, Madrid, Brussels, Munich, Copenhagen, Oslo or presumably even Rome, though JetBlue’s particular configuration of the airplane determines the real-world working vary. Aer Lingus and SAS already function the A321LR on transatlantic routes.

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The A321XLR presents a further 700 nautical miles of vary, that means JetBlue might function to the identical cities from farther away within the U.S, or have routes from bases in Florida to a lot of South America.

Extremely-low-cost service Frontier Airways, which has 18 of the A321XLRs on order with deliveries scheduled to begin in 2026, additionally plans to make use of the narrow-body jets for a trans-Atlantic enlargement.

””Europe, Hawaii and South America,” Frontier CEO Barry Biffle advised TPG in a wide-ranging October interview when requested in regards to the airline’s plans for the XLR. “We’re evaluating [them].”

“Just about anyplace within the northeast United States might go to Europe,” Biffle added. “We’re in Boston…we’re in Philadelphia, we’re in Islip in New York.”

JetBlue’s A321LRs characteristic the airline’s top-of-the-line Mint Suites and Studios.

The 22 Mint Suites characteristic seats in a 1-1 herringbone format, with seats angled barely in in direction of the aisle. Every suite is absolutely enclosed and has a sliding door that closes all the way in which. Every additionally incorporates a 17-inch display, loads of storage areas and an built-in wi-fi cellphone charger. The 2 Mint Studios on the entrance of the cabin have a ton of additional area, two home windows, a belted facet seat (so a journey companion can come and chat, or so you possibly can transfer round a bit) and a 22-inch display. The Studios have a value premium over the Suite.

There are additionally 114 “Core” financial system seats, 24 of that are “Even Extra Area” additional legroom seats. All 114 seats characteristic adjustable headrests with what the airline describes as “shoulder-friendly sidewalls.” Core seats have 10.1-inch screens, USB and customary AC energy ports and arranged seat pockets.