JetBlue announced it will suspend all flights to and from Miami beginning September 3, shifting its Florida focus to West Palm Beach and Fort Lauderdale. Despite cutting back flights earlier this year, JetBlue still served 6.8 million passengers at Fort Lauderdale in 2024, where it remains the second-largest carrier behind Spirit Airlines.
Spirit Airlines dominates Fort Lauderdale but filed for bankruptcy in November 2024, emerging from Chapter 11 restructuring in March. JetBlue’s Miami exit follows the collapse of its partnership with American Airlines, a key factor cited in an internal memo leaked to AirlineGeeks.com.
Currently, JetBlue operates just one or two daily flights between Boston and Miami. Passengers booked on Miami flights after September 3 will be offered refunds or alternatives to Fort Lauderdale or West Palm Beach.
JetBlue had expanded to 14 daily Miami flights in 2021, anticipating strong post-pandemic travel demand. However, demand fell short, and the failed Spirit merger led to further cutbacks.
Beyond Florida, JetBlue plans seasonal reductions to Caribbean routes, suspension of a new New York–New Hampshire route, and winter hiatus for Boston–Seattle service.
Despite the reductions, JetBlue aims to introduce premium offerings on high-demand routes to attract business travelers.
On June 24, CEO Joanna Geraghty acknowledged the airline’s challenges, stating JetBlue does not expect to turn a profit in 2025, marking the sixth consecutive unprofitable year. She noted the airline continues to rely on borrowed funds to sustain operations.
