JetBlue And American Airlines Plan Massive Northeastern Expansion

American Airlines and JetBlue have announced the next round of their massive international and domestic expansion. High up on the list is a new nonstop on American Airlines from New York to Delhi, while JetBlue adds seven all-new destinations in New York and Boston while tripling its presence at LaGuardia. Here is the scoop.

The two carriers have revealed another round of expansion. Photo: Vincenzo Pace | Simple Flying

American’s expansion in the Northeast

At the highlight of the new routes is American returning to New Delhi, India with nonstop service from New York. The flight will begin on October 31st and run from New York’s John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) to New Delhi’s Indira Gandhi International Airport (DEL). American will operate this service three times per week from October 31st, upping it to daily from November 17th through January 3rd.

This flight will run using a Boeing 777-200ER. American will compete against Air India on the JFK to DEL route, while United operates to DEL from its hub in Newark, New Jersey. This flight will run in addition to a planned Seattle to Bangalore service.

American will run its Delhi flights using a Boeing 777-200ER. Photo: Vincenzo Pace | Simple Flying

From Boston and New York, American will introduce new cities. Boston Logan International Airport will see new flights to Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport (CVG), St. Louis Lambert International Airport (STL), and Tronto Pearson International Airport (YYZ).

Out of New York’s LaGuardia Airport, American intends to launch flights to Houston’s George Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH), Oklahoma City’s Will Rogers World Airport (OKC), and Omaha’s Eppley Airfield (OMA).

In addition, American will be improving its signature transcontinental routes. American will now start offering its swanky Airbus A321T, utilized on flagship transcontinental routes from JFK to San Francisco and Los Angeles, on all flights between BOS and Los Angeles International Airport (LAX). This is in line with American seeking to offer a more premium service in these markets and moving away from 50-seater jets in New York.

All of American’s flights to Los Angeles will run onboard its Airbus A321T aircraft from Boston and New York. Photo: Vincenzo Pace | Simple Flying

An emboldened JetBlue plots massive expansion

JetBlue is also planning a massive expansion starting later this year and into 2022. With seven new cities in the airline’s network, the carrier is bringing its services to new midcontinent and international cities.

JetBlue will add the following new airports and anticipated launch date:

• San Antonio International Airport (SAT) from October 2021 to both BOS and JFK.
• Ramón Villeda Morales International Airport (SAP) in San Pedro Sula, Honduras, from December 2021 to JFK
• Gustavo Díaz Ordaz International Airport (PVR) in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico, to JFK in the first quarter of 2022.
• Kansas City International Airport (MCI) to both JFK and BOS in the second quarter of 2022
• Milwaukee’s Mitchell International Airport (MKE) to JFK and BOS in the second quarter of 2022
• Vancouver International Airport (YVR) to JFK and a seasonal flight to BOS in the summer of 2022
• Asheville Regional Airport (AVL) to BOS on a seasonal schedule starting in summer 2022

JetBlue is leveraging its new partnership with American to power domestic and near-field international expansion. Photo: Vincenzo Pace | Simple Flying

Meanwhile, JetBlue is growing at LaGuardia. In summer 2022, it will offer more than 50 daily departures with up to 15 roundtrips between Boston and LGA each day. The airline will also beef up schedules to Charleston, Fort Lauderdale, Orlando, West Palm Beach, Fort Myers, and Tampa out of LaGuardia.

A half dozen new markets will also see service from JetBlue out of LaGuardia:

• Jacksonville International Airport (JAX) from October 2021
• Sarasota-Bradenton International Airport (SRQ) from October 2021
• Savannah/Hilton Head International Airport (SAV) from October 2021
• Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport (MSY) from the first quarter of 2022
• Nashville International Airport (BNA) from the second quarter of 2022
• Portland International Jetport (PWM) from summer 2022

LaGuardia will get more JetBlue service next summer. Photo: Vincenzo Pace | Simple Flying

What to make of this expansion

This next round of expansion will turn American and JetBlue into a much larger force to contend with. JetBlue was already a large player in New York and the dominant carrier in Boston, and now the airline will be on track to strengthen positions in both markets.

JetBlue will further enhance its New York position, putting pressure on other carriers, especially at JFK. Photo: Vincenzo Pace | Simple Flying

The core of the new routes will especially hit hard on Delta, which has used both Boston and New York as hubs to power transatlantic expansion. Delta previously used New York as a launching point for a flight to Mumbai, India, which it terminated due to the crisis and associated retirement of the Boeing 777s.

The American-JetBlue has also ruffled other feathers. Spirit Airlines recently complained to the US Department of Transportation about the potential that the two airlines are operating more closely than is allowed, but that complaint has not stopped American and JetBlue from growing their presence.

American and JetBlue will offer the most services between New York and Florida when all the newly announced routes launch. Photo: Getty Images

With the new routes, American and JetBlue will serve more destinations and customers from Boston and New York. This will be key to both carriers as they chart a course forward through the recovery. Notably, this is a resurrection of American’s New York hub in partnership with JetBlue. American will continue operating out of Terminal 8 while JetBlue will run out of Terminal 5 at JFK. The two carriers will smoothen connections by offering secure-side transportation between the two terminals this summer.

Are you excited for the next round of expansion out of New York and Boston? Which of these new routes are you most excited to fly? Let us know in the comments!

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