JetBlue 43 from New York JFK arrived at London’s Gatwick
airport at 0726 this morning – half an hour early – as the airline celebrated its inaugural
flight on the route.
The launch of the Gatwick service follows the start of
JetBlue’s first transatlantic service to Heathrow, which began in August.
The flights are operated using JetBlue’s new Airbus A321
Long Range aircraft with 24 redesigned Mint suites and 114 core seats. On-board service includes complimentary meals from New York-based restaurant group Dig and free drinks,
one free carry-on bag and unlimited, free high-speed wifi.
The service will operate four times a week during October
and then will ramp up to daily in November as US entry requirements ease. The flights leave
New York at 1950, with scheduled arrival at 0755 the following morning. The
return flight leaves London at noon, arriving in the Big Apple at 1533 local
time.
“With a 500 per cent increase in JetBlue’s UK bookings
following news of easing US entry requirements for international travellers,
it’s clear there is significant pent-up demand for travel between our two
countries and that our Gatwick launch is well timed to meet the growing number
of customers returning to the skies,” said Joanna Geraghty, president and chief
operating officer, JetBlue.
“I’m delighted and excited to welcome JetBlue to Gatwick,”
said Stewart Wingate, Gatwick CEO. “Travel restrictions between the UK and
US start falling away in just days, so fully vaccinated customers can now
book this exciting new route with confidence. London to New York is
historically the world’s most popular international route and – given JetBlue’s
extremely competitive pricing and high-quality service – I expect this new
route to be in high demand.”
The airline has committed to offset the CO2 emissions from
all its flights to and from London throughout 2021 with the Carbonfund.org
Foundation.
Services between Boston and London “remain on track to start
in summer 2022”, the airline said.
JetBlue is at Business Travel Show Europe at ExCeL London and can be found on the BTA Pavilion, stand BTSF122.