Silhouettes of passengers in front of a JetBlue Airbus A321neo aircraft were spotted on the tarmac parked on the passenger bridge at the AMS EHAM Terminal at Amsterdam Schiphol International Airport in the Netherlands.
Nicholas Economu | Noor Photos | Getty Images
JetBlue Airways Plans to add domestic first-class seats in 2026 on planes without the top-tier Mint cabin are the latest move to win over high-paying customers and return to profitability.
JetBlue President Marty St. George said in a note to employees that all JetBlue Airbus aircraft not equipped with Mint lie-flat seats will be equipped with two or three rows of domestic first-class seats.
“Since launching Mint more than a decade ago, we have been exploring the idea of expanding its version across the entire fleet, often jokingly referring to it as a ‘Mini Mint’ or ‘Junior Mint,'” St. George said. Mint “cannot be replicated on shorter flights,” he said, so the airline must come up with solutions for passengers willing to pay for more space on shorter flights.
“We are keeping the rest of our ideas under wraps for now while we prepare for a 2026 launch. Let our competitors continue to guess,” St. George wrote.
St. George, JetBlue’s former commercial chief, returned to the New York-based airline earlier this year to help new CEO Joanna Geraghty return JetBlue to profitability and cut costs. The airline is focusing more on its core markets of Florida and the Northeast.
Since its first flight nearly 25 years ago, JetBlue has been a pioneer in the U.S. airline industry, adding comforts such as seatback entertainment and business class in an effort to keep passengers at the front of the plane compared to larger airlines. Flying is more affordable.
Since bidding for the takeover, the airline has put more emphasis on finding ways to increase sales spirit airlines was blocked by a U.S. judge in January, with American Airlines Another judge in the Northeast ruled it anticompetitive.
JetBlue is cutting a slew of new unprofitable routes, CNBC reported last week. It is also adjusting its European service, announcing new flights between Boston and Madrid on Tuesday.
The focus on pricier seats versus standard cabins has become a focus for the airline industry as many leisure travelers post-pandemic say they are willing to pay more for roomier seats or other perks such as airport lounges.
Tuesday, Alaska Airlines It said it would review its premium seat products and upgrade some aircraft after merging with Hawaiian Airlines as part of its global expansion plan.
JetBlue said earlier this year it would build its first lounge.
About The Author
