Just in time for St. Patrick's Day, US-based airline JetBlue launched new services from its hubs at John F Kennedy International Airport (JFK) in New York and Boston Logan International Airport (BOS) to the Irish capital city of Dublin. In total, the carrier will now operate two daily flights connecting these cities during the peak summer season, one from both New York and Dublin.

The carrier has continued to expand its transatlantic offerings over the past few years, adding new destinations like Paris and Amsterdam, in addition to nonstop flights from New York to Edinburgh Airport (EDI), which will launch later this spring. In order to support these route launches, JetBlue has continued to expand its product offering, with its Mint business class becoming more and more competitive with the offerings of legacy carriers.

According to data from Flightradar24, the airline's first flight from Boston to Dublin is expected to depart tonight at 20:50 and has an arrival of 07:25 local time. The first flight to Dublin from New York is also scheduled for tonight, departing around 20:30 and arriving shortly before 08:00.

Route specifics

JetBlue's choices regarding the launch of this route continue to demonstrate the carrier's intention to compete with the established legacy carriers serving these routes, which include Delta Air Lines, United Airlines, and Irish flag carrier Aer Lingus. First and foremost, these flights will operate using the airline's Mint-equipped A321neo aircraft, which will offer premium seats that cater to business and other high-spending travelers.

The airline's scheduling is also indicative of its intention to cater to business travelers on these routes. According to an earlier analysis of the route's announcement, the schedule for these services will be as follows:

From this timetable, it is easy to determine that these flights operate on a traditional transatlantic flight schedule, with an overnight flight in the eastbound direction and a daytime service the following day. As a result, JetBlue will be using evening takeoff slots at its major East Coast hubs, which are both expensive and extremely valuable.

However, JetBlue's services are seasonal, which could reduce their appeal among business travelers. According to 25 News Boston, these flights will conclude in September for the season.

An ambitious strategy

JetBlue's choice to begin flying long-haul transatlantic services has undeniably been bold. However, the carrier has seen relative success throughout its period of transatlantic operations and is poised to continue expanding.

As previously mentioned, Dublin is not the only European destination that the carrier will be adding to its route network. According to the airline, flights to Edinburgh will begin on 22 May 2024 from New York and are set to continue throughout the summer.

Currently, JetBlue's transatlantic route network consists of five services from New York and Boston to London, Paris, and Amsterdam. With 16 luxurious mint suites and 144 standard economy class suites, the A321neo offers something for every passenger.