Airlines JetBlue considers transatlantic flights

The US low cost carrier JetBlue is considering to enter into the long haul market by connecting its West coast hubs with destinations in Europe.

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The Irish Independent reports, JetBlue is developing a concept to change some of its 60 ordered Airbus A321Neo into the long haul version A321LR. The carrier has ordered the aircraft in 2016 with options to change to the Longer Range version of the A321 – the A321LR.

The Airbus A321LR is designed in the “middle of the market” as a replacement for the aging Boeing 757-200. The single-aisle aircraft will have a capacity for 206 passengers in a two-class configuration with an increased range of up to 7400 kilometers.

First destinations for the long haul operations from Boston and New York JFK could be in Ireland and the UK, reports the newspaper.  The new JetBlue plans might lead to a conflict with its Irish code sharing partner AerLingus. The Irish carrier offers daily flights from its hub in Dublin to several US destinations and has ordered eight Airbus A321LR to increase the capacity and add new destinations to its US network.

Several airlines have announced new long haul flights between Europe and the US with single aisle aircraft in the last months. Primera Air, a Scandinavian carrier, will become the launch customer of the Airbus A321LR and plans to commence transatlantic operations in 2018. The airline will connect Newark, Boston and Toronto with Birmingham, London Stansted and Paris CDG.

In 2017, Norwegian commenced transatlantic flights with Boeing 737-800 and Boeing 737-8 MAX aircraft. The carrier connects Stewart International Airport and Green Airport on Rhodes Island with several cities in the UK and Scandinavia.

Canada’s low cost airline WestJet will commence operations between St. Johns and Dublin with a Boeing 737-700 in Spring 2017.

JetBlue is one of the largest low cost carriers in the US. The airline operates a fleet of over 220 aircraft including 130 A320, 50 A321 and 60 Embraer 190 aircraft.

Source © AVIPEO.COM

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