jetBlue set to launch London to US flights

Exclusive: Flights from Boston and New York JFK could serve Gatwick or Stansted

One of America’s top-rated airlines is set to announce transatlantic flights promising “better service and lower fares than anyone”.

The carrier is New York-based jetBlue, which started flying from JFK airport in 2000. It has since expanded to more than 100 destinations across the US, Caribbean and Latin America.

Speaking exclusively to The Independent, the airline’s chief executive, Robin Hayes, said: “What jetBlue has always done since we started nearly 20 years ago is bring low fares with a better service, and we’d love to bring that to Europe.

“We’re actively looking at it now.”

He also revealed that the aircraft used would be the narrow-bodied Airbus A321LR (long-range). The airline has a big order with Airbus for A321neo jets, with an option to convert some to the long-range variant.

Hayes stressed that a transatlantic network would be based only at Boston and New York JFK – the airline’s two main hubs in the northeast US. Initially it would not serve any other US cities nonstop, but could offer many connections through the two hubs.

At Boston, jetBlue is the biggest airline. In terms of passenger numbers, London is the largest destination from Boston that jetBlue does not serve.

Business-class fares from London to Boston and New York are typically over £8,000 return, which is more than the cost of a journey twice as far, such as from London to Singapore.

While big corporate clients may pay as little as half this figure, Hayes said: “Premium fares are very, very high.

“Airlines have continued to increase them believing they’re not really elastic at that price level.” In other words, fare increases do not lead to a proportionate decline in demand.

Hayes believes jetBlue can bring fares down from present levels and still make a reasonable profit.

On transcontinental services in the US, connecting New York and Boston with Los Angeles and San Francisco, jetBlue’s premium service is called Mint. It offers international long-haul standards, including lie-flat beds, as well as free, high-speed, “gate-to-gate” wifi.

“Since we launched [Mint], transcontinental fares have approximately halved,” said Mr Hayes.

A big problem for any new entrant on the London-New York route is that evidence suggests business travellers want to fly from Heathrow. Several business-class-only carriers have failed flying to New York from Luton and Stansted.

But Hayes said: “The difference between us and all those airlines is that we have a very well-known brand in the US, we have a very trusted brand, and we have a network behind both New York and Boston to support it.

“So we’re not starting from zero. We’re starting from a network and a relevance in New York and Boston that these other airlines simply didn’t have.”

He said that joint-ventures such as British Airways-American Airlines and Delta-Virgin Atlantic were proving anti-competitive, and urged the authorities to free up slots at congested airports to increase competition. Heathrow is the most congested airport in the world.

The jetBlue boss hinted that Gatwick and Stansted could be considered as the London end of the transatlantic network.

“Part of the issue with Gatwick and Stansted has been about geography, but it’s also been about the quality of the schedules.

“We’ve got to make sure we can offer schedules that are compelling for our customers.”

The aviation consultant John Strickland said: “With the A321LR, jetBlue will have the ideal means to launch a transatlantic operation given its excellent economics and moderate capacity.

“On top of this they are aiming at the high end of the market with a quality product so don’t simply have to join the price scrum.

“The challenge will be that incumbents will be planning to make life as difficult as possible for them by defending this lucrative business.”

An announcement is expected early next month, with services likely to start from late 2019. Staff at jetBlue have been sent a “save the date” email about an event in New York on 10 April, described as “a chat about jetBlue’s vision and strategy”.

The following day, Hayes is due to speak at the Aviation Club in London.

“We’re going to make a decision in 2019,” he told The Independent.

“And if we make a decision to come, I promise you better service and lower fares than anyone: jetBlue flying to Europe would have a very important and profound effect in lowering fares.”