Are $1200 Round Trip Transatlantic “Business Class” Fares Coming?

Following in the coattails of Norwegian and Wow Air, JetBlue has announced that, as of 2021, it’ll commence multiple daily flights to London from New York and Boston. It hopes that its premium Mint product will help it to succeed in the trans-Atlantic market where other low-cost airlines struggled.

Earlier this month, low-cost carrier JetBlue announced that it would be commencing multiple daily flights from New York and Boston to London in 2021. This, of course, is the airline’s very first foray into the European market and it soon hopes to succeed where other budget operators – such as Norwegian and, more latterly, Wow Air – have struggled.

Analyzing the chances of JetBlue’s success, The L.A. Times observes that the likes of, “…Delta, United and American already offer a competitive bare-bones fare, called “basic economy” on flights to Europe.”

However, JetBlue is hoping to differentiate itself in the trans-Atlantic market via its Mint product, which offers a premium class fare featuring a lie-flat seat.

“Travelers flying across the North Atlantic between the northeast U.S. and London have long faced sky-high fares – particularly in premium cabins – or mediocre service in a market effectively controlled by legacy carriers and their massive joint ventures. Alternatively, a handful of low-cost carriers have attempted to enter with a no-frills, bare-bones approach to flying offering little in the way of complimentary amenities or the kind of service that JetBlue has become famous for in the Americas,” the airline said in a statement.

“Particularly in Europe, JetBlue will raise the bar on what travelers can expect from a low-cost carrier,” it added.

Commenting on JetBlue’s entry into the trans-Atlantic market, Joanna Geraghty, the airline’s president and chief operating officer, said, “It’s time for regulators here in the U.S. and across Europe to create conditions where smaller carriers and new entrants can thrive, instead of letting the giant airlines get even bigger through joint ventures. Given a chance to compete, JetBlue can have a tremendous effect on lowering fares and stimulating traffic”

For those looking for a trans-Atlantic bargain, the outlet states that while the carrier can’t reveal the exact price of any future fares, JetBlue’s Mint service on this particular route might come in at around $1,200, the fraction of a cost of a premium or business class ticket on a legacy carrier.

[Image Source: JetBlue]