As part of its newest effort to attract higher-paying passengers and turn a profit again, JetBlue Airways intends to install domestic first-class seats on aircraft that do not currently have its premium Mint class in 2026.
In a memo to staff, JetBlue president Marty St. George stated that all of the airline’s Airbus planes that do not feature Mint, the airline’s lie-flat seats, will have two or three rows of domestic first-class seats.
We have investigated the possibility of extending a version of Mint throughout the fleet since its inception more than ten years ago, frequently jokingly referring to it as junior Mint or mini-Mint, St. George stated. He claimed that because Mint cannot be replicated on shorter trips, the airline has to find a way to accommodate customers who are prepared to pay more for additional space on shorter flights.
As we get ready for a 2026 debut, we are currently keeping the rest of our plans under wraps. St. George wrote, “Let’s keep our competitors guessing.”
Earlier this year, St. George, the former head of JetBlue’s commercial division, returned to the New York-based airline to assist Joanna Geraghty, the new CEO, in turning JetBlue back to profitability and reducing expenses. The airline is concentrating more on the Northeast and Florida, which are its main markets.
Since its first flights nearly 25 years ago, JetBlue has led the U.S. airline industry by introducing amenities like seat-back entertainment and a business class that aims to lower the cost of flying at the front of the plane for passengers in comparison to the major carriers that control the majority of air travel in the country.
Since a U.S. judge halted the airline’s proposal to buy Spirit Airlines in January and another judge declared its Northeast alliance with American Airlines to be anticompetitive, the airline has been more focused on finding ways to boost sales.
According to a CNBC report last week, JetBlue is reducing the number of unprofitable routes it operates. Additionally, it is making changes to its European service, revealing a new trip on Tuesday between Boston and Madrid.
Since many leisure travelers have demonstrated that they are prepared to pay extra for roomier seats or other benefits like airport lounges since the pandemic, the airline industry has turned its attention to seats that are more expensive than regular coach.
As part of its intentions for a worldwide expansion, Alaska Airlines announced on Tuesday that it would review its premium seat offers and modernize some of its aircraft after merging with Hawaiian.
Earlier this year, JetBlue announced plans to construct its first lounges.
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