JetBlue has just revealed the details of two new transatlantic routes that it intends to launch in the summer of 2025, and it’s great news for those in Boston.
In this post:
JetBlue adds two transatlantic destinations in 2025
In 2021, we saw JetBlue launch transatlantic routes, with its new Airbus A321LR aircraft. Many passengers were excited about this, given JetBlue’s great onboard product. However, this service hasn’t turned out to be the cash cow that the airline hoped.
We’ve seen JetBlue greatly shake up its transatlantic network to focus on profitability. This has included cutting some transatlantic flying in winter, and canceling money losing routes in summer.
Recently, JetBlue revealed that for this upcoming summer, it wouldn’t operate its seasonal New York to London Gatwick flight, and also wouldn’t bring back its second daily New York to Paris flight. We now know JetBlue’s new plans with these aircraft.
The new flights are already on sale (keep in mind there are good deals to be had when redeeming Qatar Airways Avios for JetBlue Mint, as it offers much better value than JetBlue TrueBlue).
JetBlue Boston to Edinburgh flight details
Between May 22 and October 25, 2025, JetBlue plans to operate daily flights between Boston (BOS) and Edinburgh, Scotland (EDI). The flight will operate with the following schedule:
B61079 Boston to Edinburgh departing 10:30PM arriving 10:10AM (+1 day)
B61080 Edinburgh to Boston departing 12:10PM arriving 2:22PM
The 3,070-mile flight is blocked at 6hr40min eastbound and 7hr12min westbound. JetBlue plans to use a 160-seat Airbus A321neo for the route, featuring two Mint Studios, 14 Mint Suites, 42 Even More Space seats, and 102 standard economy seats.
JetBlue will be going head-to-head against Delta in the market, which also operates a seasonal flight with a Boeing 767-300ER. This won’t be JetBlue’s first time flying to Edinburgh, as the airline launched a seasonal New York to Edinburgh route in 2024, and it’ll be returning in 2025.
JetBlue Boston to Madrid flight details
Between May 23 and October 25, 2025, JetBlue plans to operate daily flights between Boston (BOS) and Madrid, Spain (MAD). The flight will operate with the following schedule:
B62261 Boston to Madrid departing 10:25PM arriving 11:30AM (+1 day)
B62260 Madrid to Boston departing 1:30PM arriving 3:20PM
The 3,410-mile flight is blocked at 7hr5min eastbound and 7hr50min westbound. JetBlue plans to use a 138-seat Airbus A321LR for the route, featuring two Mint Studios, 22 Mint Suites, 24 Even More Space seats, and 90 standard economy seats.
JetBlue will be going head-to-head against Iberia in the market, which operates up to twice daily year-round flights with Airbus A321XLRs. This will be JetBlue’s first time flying to Madrid.
My take on JetBlue’s transatlantic additions
It’s fascinating to see how JetBlue’s transatlantic network is evolving, especially in an era where it seems like demand for summer travel across the Atlantic is endless:
- JetBlue seems to see more potential in Boston than in New York as a transatlantic gateway, as this coming summer the airline will serve more European destinations out of Boston than out of New York
- It’s interesting how JetBlue is cutting frequencies from New York to both London and Paris in order to make these routes work; it certainly counters the traditional wisdom out there, regarding there being no such thing as too many routes to places like France in summer
While most of Europe is hot with inbound tourism in summer, there’s no denying that Greece, Italy, and Spain, are probably the three hottest countries, especially in terms of growth of demand. It’s logical to see JetBlue expanding to Spain. The challenge is that Greece and Italy aren’t really within range for JetBlue’s existing aircraft, until the airline acquires its Airbus A321XLRS (well, if/when that happens)
Ultimately JetBlue’s challenge across the Atlantic is that it’s not easy to operate independently, outside of the major joint ventures. Furthermore, JetBlue doesn’t have much cargo capacity on its narrow body jets. And as nice as JetBlue’s passenger experience is, the airline isn’t able to command the fares or generate the loyalty revenue of its “big three” counterparts.
I still think JetBlue launching transatlantic flights probably wasn’t the right business move, but obviously the company’s current management team is trying to make the best of the situation, and utilize planes as profitably as possible.
Bottom line
In the summer of 2025, JetBlue will launch new daily nonstop seasonal flights from Boston to both Edinburgh and Madrid. It’s interesting to see JetBlue’s focus on Boston, and also to see that the airline has more faith in these markets than it does in offering more service from New York to London and Paris.I hope these routes perform well, as I’m rooting for JetBlue’s success!
What do you make of JetBlue’s new transatlantic destinations?
get ready to be crushed JB. Just like you were on LGW and CDG..... between Delta and Iberia you are toast!!!!!
Good for JetBlue! And you’re wrong, if I had a nickel every time for the last 22 years nay saying say “JetBlue will get crushed going head on with the big boys” this past quarter leadership said transatlantic has come along way and is outperforming the whole system. It’s doing very well on its own. They aren’t trying to cripple delta and united, they see an opportunity to expand their
Loyalty and make money....
Good for JetBlue! And you’re wrong, if I had a nickel every time for the last 22 years nay saying say “JetBlue will get crushed going head on with the big boys” this past quarter leadership said transatlantic has come along way and is outperforming the whole system. It’s doing very well on its own. They aren’t trying to cripple delta and united, they see an opportunity to expand their
Loyalty and make money. So no they “won’t be crushed” they been continuing to expand transatlantic ever since they started. It’s working and succeeding.
Iberia and DL both are awful.
WTH are you are talking about?!
BOS-EDI: what's worse? The coffin seats on DL or the herringbone seats on B6...
BOS-MAD: Only herringbone seats on that route now, gosh I miss the A340s! ;( I wonder why the Stelia Opera like on ITA is not proving to be popular on narrow bodies. Especially for airlines trying to market how "premium" they are. I honestly prefer the standard Thompson Vantage (original Mint, TAP 321LRs) to the Vantage Solo product (Mint "suite", Iberia 321XLR). #DisownTheHerringbone
It's hard to imagine the MAD flight being successful. IB is a generally well ran airline, and there is a reason they fly their smallest long-haul jet to BOS. If they thought there was more demand, IB would upgauge the route. Also, IB is an incredibly affordable transatlantic carrier in cash or points, with a perfectly acceptable product in both business and economy. I can't imagine B6 competing with the prices, let alone undercutting. This...
It's hard to imagine the MAD flight being successful. IB is a generally well ran airline, and there is a reason they fly their smallest long-haul jet to BOS. If they thought there was more demand, IB would upgauge the route. Also, IB is an incredibly affordable transatlantic carrier in cash or points, with a perfectly acceptable product in both business and economy. I can't imagine B6 competing with the prices, let alone undercutting. This move feels like an experiment that's likely to fail.
Maybe they're planning a partnership with IB? They already have ones with other IAG carriers over at BA and EI. If they implement one, am curious to see if this results in the dissolution of the one they have with TP
They now fly to Boston on their smallest plane but at up to double the frequency; daily this winter (instead of 4x weekly on the A330) and double daily this summer (instead of daily on the A330/A350). While it is only a small increase in overall capacity (the lack of PY is the biggest change), the benefit is allowing passengers a choice of more flights and convenient connections via Madrid. Overall, the switch from daily...
They now fly to Boston on their smallest plane but at up to double the frequency; daily this winter (instead of 4x weekly on the A330) and double daily this summer (instead of daily on the A330/A350). While it is only a small increase in overall capacity (the lack of PY is the biggest change), the benefit is allowing passengers a choice of more flights and convenient connections via Madrid. Overall, the switch from daily wide bodies to double-daily narrow bodies is an overall benefit for the market on one of the shortest transatlantic flights.
That said, Barcelona is a much bigger tourism draw than Madrid and Madrid is hot… and I mean HOT in summer, so I do agree that JetBlue will have to work to make this one work. It isn’t a huge local market but it’s not nothing either, connected by many of the standard features for Boston (life sciences, education, tech, tourism).
Why not Barcelona instead of Madrid? No real competition (LEVEL is not competition) out of Boston, such a hot leisure destination, etc.
Madrid has quite the premium demand, both for leisure and business. Something which goes chronically unnoticed in this blog for whatever reason
No I notice, but Jetblue would have BCN all to themselves (besides Budget Level). Madris currently gets Iberia and Delta from BOS.
@Andrew Delta is starting a seasonal BOS-BCN route, not BOS-MAD. So JetBlue would compete with two widebody flights on the BCN route, versus two single aisle planes on the BOS-MAD route.
Delta does not fly MAD-BOS.
LEVEL is competition. It's a plane with nearly 300 seats. That is, actually, competition. It has an impact on the fare level, etc. It is competition, whether you like it or not (and certainly, those who actually make the decisions, namely, those network planners and those who have access to fare levels and demand information, DO see it as robust competition).
This is great for a parent of a student at St Andrews. Just wish they would make one of these year round!
This is giving MEH. They are following Delta’s footsteps by being vanilla. They need to think outside the box
Like?
Jetblue should consider Manchester as a summer UK route as Virgin Atlantic and Aer Lingus US flights are often busy in the summer
But then again I do wonder if it's too much of a mainstream route for a narrow body to compete on
Manchester makes sense as the metro area has 3 million and the region over 8 million. In addition to having 20 universities with over 400,000 students within an hour’s drive, digital and biotech as well as tourism in the region.
Appears as of today as well, JetBlue is allowing you to select EMS as a fare type, how Delta sells C+, rather than as just an add on after purchasing economy
Edinburgh is one of those long and thin long-haul routes that makes perfect sense for JetBlue with its fleet. A sizeable American immigrant population there too which is why there is a consulate.
Huge market for American golfers too.
I wasn't aware of the American population there, is there any specific reason why so many of them are in Edinburgh?
It’s less than 7000.
Apart from the weather as there are two seasons, June and winter - Healthcare. No student large loans. Accessiblity. Work conditions- sick pay , maternity leave, to name but a few dozen.
Competition, competition, competition...
JBLU probably has a better chance on these routes out of BOS than JFK. Why? As I harp on all the time, lounges. At least in BOS, certain JetBlue customers may have access to the Chase lounge in the B/C connector if they have the right card. At JFK, they have to deal with the outdated Terminal 5, which has no lounges and gets to be a crowded zoo all too often....
Competition, competition, competition...
JBLU probably has a better chance on these routes out of BOS than JFK. Why? As I harp on all the time, lounges. At least in BOS, certain JetBlue customers may have access to the Chase lounge in the B/C connector if they have the right card. At JFK, they have to deal with the outdated Terminal 5, which has no lounges and gets to be a crowded zoo all too often.
Also, both American and Delta (along with various international airlines) fly to a lot these destinations out of JFK, while Delta is really the only domestic transatlantic competition out of BOS. For example, four airlines fly to MAD out of JFK already, while only one (Iberia) flies there from BOS.
Not saying JBLU will be hugely successful on these routes, but I can see the rationale
I appreciate the additional competition on these routes, but also would be nice if JetBlue would follow United's lead and bring some new markets and uniqueness to their route map rather than just piling on routes that already exist. I understand they are limited by their aircraft type, but what about something like Boston to Malage or San Sebastion or Tenerife instead of MAD? That might even make folks go out of their way to...
I appreciate the additional competition on these routes, but also would be nice if JetBlue would follow United's lead and bring some new markets and uniqueness to their route map rather than just piling on routes that already exist. I understand they are limited by their aircraft type, but what about something like Boston to Malage or San Sebastion or Tenerife instead of MAD? That might even make folks go out of their way to fly B6 by positioning through BOS if they could get to their final destinations directly.
If I have to connect to get to or from a second tier European city, I’d much rather do it in Europe.
Means my outbound initial and return final legs are the longest and better for sleeping, and I don’t have to hassle with US re-clearance on my return.
Wow, first Edinburgh gets the inaugural Emirates A350 and now it gets Mint from Boston. Good on them.