JetBlue filed plans to exit one in every of its latest worldwide locations because it continues to tweak its route map as a part of a broader effort to return to profitability.
The New York-based provider will stop flying to Bonaire’s Flamingo Worldwide Airport (BON) on Jan. 3, 2026, as first seen in Cirium schedules and later confirmed by a provider spokesperson.
Bonaire, a Caribbean island that is a part of the Netherlands, is one in every of JetBlue’s latest locations. The airline started service there Nov. 5, 2024, as a part of a community shake-up that included new service to St. Vincent and the Grenadines and an enlargement in San Juan, Puerto Rico.
Bonaire seemingly match the invoice for a vacation spot for JetBlue’s leisure-focused route map, and because the airline continues with its push towards profitability below the JetForward technique, it has redoubled its efforts to be the first leisure provider for New Yorkers and Bostonians.
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Flying to Bonaire was initially a leisure play (not like lots of the primarily enterprise locations that’ve been lower in latest months, like Charlotte and Minneapolis), so it is fascinating to see that this vacation spot wasn’t working for JetBlue.
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It seems that the rationale it is being lower would possibly clarify why the airline is pulling the plug so rapidly.
In an announcement confirming the transfer, JetBlue mentioned that “we’re all the time working to fine-tune our community to finest align with buyer demand and assist our long-term success. As a part of this, JetBlue will finish its once-weekly service between New York (JFK) and Bonaire (BON) after native authorities knowledgeable us they are going to be ending a multi-year income assure early.”
Airways generally obtain subsidies and minimal income ensures to function sure strategic flights, and as an alternative of flying at what would probably be a loss, JetBlue is chopping its losses rapidly.
Whereas the small print of the income assure stay confidential, the writing was most likely already on the wall for Bonaire’s poor efficiency for JetBlue.
JetBlue initially entered the market with as much as two weekly flights however lower the second frequency on the finish of August. The once-weekly schedule will proceed by way of the final day of service, which is Jan. 3, 2026.
Even with out JetBlue, Bonaire will nonetheless be served from the New York Metropolis space. United Airways presents once-weekly flights there from Newark (in addition to from Houston), whereas American Airways flies as much as 4 occasions every week from Miami. Delta Air Strains additionally flies to Bonaire as soon as every week from Atlanta.
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