JetBlue trims New York-area bases as Fort Lauderdale push grows
JetBlue will close selected Newark and LaGuardia crew and technical bases this fall while shifting more flying to Fort Lauderdale.
By Hana Yoshida · Markets Reporter
3 min read
JetBlue Airways plans to close some employee bases at Newark Liberty International Airport and LaGuardia Airport this fall as it concentrates more flying in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. The move shows how the airline is redirecting aircraft and staffing toward markets it sees as more profitable while trying to cut operating costs.
The carrier told CNBC that it will shut its flight attendant base at Newark, as well as technical operations bases at Newark and LaGuardia. JetBlue said no employees will lose their jobs because of the changes, and affected staff will be able to bid for or transfer to other bases.
JetBlue also told CNBC it is making schedule changes at Newark, including ending seasonal service from Newark to Los Angeles and Las Vegas. The airline said the adjustments are intended to support its growth at Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport.
The Florida expansion includes more premium transcontinental service. CNBC reported that JetBlue said Wednesday it will begin daily Fort Lauderdale-San Diego flights with its Mint lie-flat business-class seats on Nov. 19, and will add more Mint-equipped flights this winter from Fort Lauderdale to San Francisco and Los Angeles.
Fort Lauderdale becomes a bigger focus
JetBlue is already the largest airline at Fort Lauderdale, according to CNBC. The carrier had previously trailed Spirit Airlines there, but CNBC reported that the South Florida-based discount airline collapsed on May 2.
Cirium schedule data cited by CNBC shows JetBlue increasing its scheduled flights from Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport by more than 50% in 2026. The data listed JetBlue with 38,800 scheduled flights from the airport in 2026, compared with 25,000 in 2025.
JetBlue President Marty St. George told CNBC earlier this month that Fort Lauderdale is a major part of the airline’s plan to return to steady profitability. CNBC reported that JetBlue’s last profitable quarter was two years ago, and that the company has spent years cutting routes that did not make money and reducing expenses.
St. George also told CNBC the airline is looking for space for a higher-end airport lounge at Fort Lauderdale. That would extend JetBlue’s effort to attract more premium travelers on some of its longer routes.
Airport costs remain a pressure point
JetBlue executives have pointed to high airport costs as one reason the airline has reduced its presence in some places, including LaGuardia. The New York airport recently underwent a major renovation, including upgrades to Terminal B.
At a JPMorgan industry conference in March, St. George said JetBlue had become “much, much smaller at LaGuardia” than it was four years earlier because of the airport’s cost per passenger, according to CNBC. Referring to a 25-foot water feature in Terminal B, he said travelers would prefer lower fares to expensive airport amenities.
The planned base closures do not remove JetBlue from Newark or LaGuardia, but they mark another step in a broader shift. The airline is cutting back in costlier New York-area operations while putting more capacity into Fort Lauderdale, where it has a stronger competitive position.
This story draws on original reporting from CNBC.