In June 2023, JetBlue unveiled a new livery, which the carrier refers to as the “Hops” design. This was a major development for the company, as it’s the first time in JetBlue’s nearly 25-year history that it had a complete design refresh. There’s now an update, as JetBlue has revealed a variation of the new livery, which will eventually be featured throughout the A220 fleet.
The basics of JetBlue’s (very blue) new livery
For some background, let’s start with the basics of JetBlue’s new livery, which was unveiled in the middle of 2023. Not surprisingly, the livery is very blue (there’s a hint in the name!). It first debuted on an Airbus A321 with the registration code N982JB, but several other planes have received the new livery since.
The new livery design builds on JetBlue’s previous design. Here’s how JetBlue describes the highlights of the new livery:
- A blue fuselage that goes all-in on the company’s namesake color
- Iconic tailfin patterns now energized and extended to embrace the body and belly of the aircraft
- A larger JetBlue logo to represent the bold impact these aircraft have in the industry
- Colorful winglets that add an extra pop of fun with a refreshed palette of accent colors
- The aircraft’s pattern and the JetBlue logo featured on the belly, making it instantly recognizable to plane-spotters
The new was supposed to be an extension of JetBlue rolling out a new visual brand identity on digital assets and social platforms, intended to “reflect a more joyful, contemporary and digital-first appearance.” Here’s how Jayne O’Brien, head of marketing and loyalty at JetBlue, describes this redesign:
“Liveries have always been a part of our identity. When you spot a JetBlue aircraft—whether on the ground or in the air—we want customers to recognize us as a travel brand that moves them differently than everyone else. The new livery helps us stand out among a sky of legacy carriers, and is a stunning reflection of our role as a disruptor that uniquely combines lower fares and great service.”
JetBlue introduces livery variation on Airbus A220
The Airbus A220-300 very much represents the future of JetBlue’s fleet. The plane is as awesome for airlines as it is for passengers, as it has great economics, and superior passenger comfort. The airline has finally painted the first A220 in the new livery, and there’s a surprise — it’s a little different than the other new livery.
The first plane with the new livery is a brand new A220 with the registration code N3241J. As you can see, the patterns of the livery are different, and on top of that, the A220 livery has violet accents, which you won’t find on other aircraft. JetBlue describes this update to the new livery as being “multidimensional, playful, and full of motion.”
My take on JetBlue’s new livery
Us avgeeks tend to have strong opinions on new liveries. Even if we eventually end up liking a new design, it can often take some getting used to.
As a reminder, below is what JetBlue’s previous livery looks like, though there are some variations with the tail design. If you ask me, JetBlue’s previous livery still looks pretty modern. And while the fuselage is white (as is the case with most airlines), it still has some unique elements that set it apart.
By comparison, the new livery definitely stands out a lot more. When I first saw the livery, I wasn’t sure what to think, and was kind of indifferent. However, having now seen it in person several times, I quite like it, and appreciate how distinctive it is. Yes, it kind of looks like a cross between Breeze and Southwest liveries, but it’s still unique.
I do find it unusual (though not necessarily bad) how the airline is introducing meaningfully different liveries on the A220 and other jets. Yes, they all primarily use blue, but otherwise there are quite some differences. I suppose JetBlue isn’t alone in doing that — Riyadh Air is even more extreme, and plans to have two completely different liveries.
Bottom line
In 2023, JetBlue unveiled a new livery, which represents the first full livery refresh in the carrier’s history. JetBlue has long used blue as its signature color, and the new livery most definitely reflects that. Now the airline has introduced an update on the new livery, which will be featured on the A220 fleet going forward.
What do you make of JetBlue’s new livery, plus the variation?
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