JetBlue Airways is set to withdraw from the prominent business route between New York’s LaGuardia Airport (LGA) and Boston Logan International Airport (BOS) by late April. This decision was initially reported by Ishrion Aviation and later verified by a JetBlue spokesperson.
The airline currently operates six daily flights on this 184-mile shuttle route, which has been part of its network since October 2016. The service uses the Embraer E190 aircraft, which JetBlue plans to retire soon.
Derek Dombrowski, a spokesperson for JetBlue, stated: “As part of our JetForward strategy to build the best East Coast leisure network, JetBlue will discontinue service between Boston Logan (BOS) and New York LaGuardia (LGA). The airport fees charged to JetBlue at LGA have risen sharply — now about $50 per traveler — which make it impossible for us to offer the low fares customers expect while maintaining profitability on this route.”
This change is part of a broader restructuring effort under JetBlue’s “JetForward” plan aimed at focusing on leisure markets in the Northeast and Florida. Recent months have seen the airline reduce over 50 routes and exit 15 cities.
At its height in March 2023, JetBlue operated 52 daily departures from LaGuardia. Following this cutback, that number will decrease to just 13 peak daily departures. The airline will continue flying year-round from LGA to destinations in Florida such as Fort Lauderdale, Orlando, Tampa, and West Palm Beach; additionally serving Nantucket during peak summer months.
LaGuardia is known for its limited capacity due to slot restrictions necessary for takeoff and landing permissions. Withdrawing from the Boston route allows JetBlue to free up six slots. According to an airline statement: “JetBlue will redeploy three takeoff and landing slots to leisure markets while leasing the remaining three to another carrier.”
The likely lessee appears to be Porter Airlines, a Canadian carrier with plans for three new daily flights into LaGuardia starting soon. Both airlines are interline partners.
With JetBlue’s departure from this market segment, American Airlines and Delta Air Lines will continue operating flights between New York City and Boston. However, JetBlue maintains service between Boston and John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK).
