JetBlue Airways Nearing 20-year Anniversary – Here’s what to expect in the future

According to Travel.org, 70 percent air travel is down 70% from last year.

Despite its challenges, JetBlue has grown exponentially. According to JetBlue.com, 11 airplanes and 1.1 million passengers in 2000 to 269 aircraft and 42 million passengers in 2019, operating an average of 1,000 daily flights per day to 99 destinations in 25 countries.

As popular as they are locally, JetBlue is not as relevant on a national scale outside of its Northeast, Florida, Caribbean and transcontinental beachheads. However, their focus continues to remain on the customer.

JetBlue CEO Robin Hayes said “We are returning to our low-cost roots which is what enables us to offer low fares and be profitable so we can invest in the product and people,” Hayes says. “By early 2021, the airline will complete an extensive restyle of economy, which includes 10-inch HD TV screens with 100+ channels of live TV and on-demand content, free high-speed Internet, seatback power and more ergonomic seats. Those seats will, however, offer slightly reduced legroom.” -JetBlue.com

Beside its new fleet, JetBlue has announced that by “going green” it will offset carbon dioxide emissions for all domestic flights beginning in July 2020.

Making efforts to go green is not a purely altruistic move, according to Hayes. “It’s the cost of doing business. It’s going to become an increasing awareness with customers. And frankly, I think they’re going to stop booking airlines that don’t offer it.”

JetBlue’s brand value has actually increased among airlines in the world from number 23 in 2018 to number 19 in 2019, according to BrandFinance.com.

So what exactly will this mean for JetBlue in the next 20 years?

Hard to tell but JetBlue remains the only US airline to startup this millennium and still operating. It has truly been the most successful startup airline in the shortest period of time. JetBlue might see some competition from other high- volume airlines, or maybe another airline will join the fray, but the future remains bright and its 20 year history is something to commend.