Article from BTNews 24 JUNE 2019
JetBlue renews attack on rivals
Joining last week’s flurry of A321XLR orders, future transatlantic contender JetBlue said it was converting 13 aircraft in its existing Airbus A321neo order book to the new version for delivery from 2023.
CEO Robin Hayes used the opportunity to return to the attack on “high premium fares and sub-par service” he says are plaguing European markets and said the extended range of the XLR would enable JetBlue to “evaluate even more overseas destinations”.
The aircraft would support JetBlue’s focus-city strategy by allowing the airline to implement further expansion to Europe from Boston and New York while also providing added fuel efficiency, he added.
Hayes said JetBlue would also exercise its option to add 10 more A220-300s to its order, with delivery from 2025. Like the XLR, these were “game changers” in regards to enhancing the airline’s industry-leading customer experience, he added.
“Like London, JetBlue will explore European cities that suffer from high fares or mediocre service and those which are effectively controlled by legacy carriers and their massive joint ventures,” he went on.
“JetBlue is developing a reimagined transatlantic version of its premium Mint product, as well as an enhanced transatlantic Core experience for the A321XLR.”
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