JetBlue Gives Up Nearly A Dozen LB Airport Flight Slots (Now Open For Others), Retains Nearly Two Dozen, Adjusts Schedule, Says Unspecified LB "Constraints" Have Created "Challenges"
Is it company's response to Jan. 2017 Council vote nixing int'l flights? Or dispute over current policy on imposing fines for late-night flights? Or concern over possible amendment of Airport ordinance increasing fines for late night flights? Or all of the above?
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(April 25, 2018, updated 3:27 p.m.) -- JetBlue Airways is changing some destinations and shifting about a dozen daily flights away from Long Beach to Ontario and Burbank Airports, saying it's "refining" strategy in LB "where certain flying constraints have created challenges."
A company release at this link states in its sub-headline: "Refinement to Long Beach Schedule Positions Airline for Success in Greater Los Angeles, With Service in Four Metro Airports."
It's not immediately clear from the release [and we have inquired with JetBlue, response pending] as to exactly what the unspecified "constraints" are [plural term used in the company release.] The unspecified "constraints" might refer to the LB City Council's Jan. 2017 vote (8-1, Andrews dissenting) declining to request a U.S. Customs facility (sought by JetBlue) that would have effectively turned LB's municipal domestic serving airport into an international facility (open to multiple other international operators)
OR to a current dispute between JetBlue and LB Airport management over fines payable by JetBlue for increasing numbers of late night flight violations of the City's neighborhood-protective airport ordinance...
OR to amendments to the Airport Ordinance now being considered by Airport management for possible presentation to the City Council that would increase fines for late night flights.
OR to aspects of all of the above.
[Scroll down for further.]
A City Council hearing on the late-night-flights/fine-issue had been expected a few weeks ago (amid threats by JetBlue that the city's stance created federal law issues (LBREPORT.com coverage here and here)...but the hearing hasn't surfaced to date on a Council agenda. (A LB Airport spokesperson didn't respond to LBREPORT.com's inquiry on the matter yesterday April 24.)
In terms of LB Airport flight slots, JetBlue will give up a dozen by using 23 instead of (at its height) 35 (it gave up one for Hawaiian Airlines)...and the freed-up slots will now effectively become available to other operators.
LB Airport issued this statement: "Today JetBlue announced a number of changes to their service at local area airports, including the Long Beach Airport. This announcement included strategic airline decisions made to balance their service in the region. Long Beach Airport has an established waiting list of airlines who have very high level of interest in any available slots. These airlines currently include Delta, Southwest and Hawaiian. As additional slots become available, they are offered, in order, to carriers on the established list. For the reason that there is strong demand, slots will be filled quickly."
JetBlue VP Commercial and Planning Marty St. George stated in today's (April 25) release: "Revising our schedule allows us to offer customers new destinations, capitalize on our leadership position in transcontinental flying and advance our margin commitments in Long Beach where certain flying constraints have created challenges."
In the LB portion of the company's release visible here, JetBlue states:
"In addition to adding Steamboat Springs and Bozeman flights in Long Beach, as well as introducing daylight Boston service, JetBlue will also adjust schedules at Long Beach Airport to better meet the needs of the market, offering up to 23 daily flights, which is in line with service levels offered by JetBlue in 2016."
JetBlue will now use the following routes starting September 5, 2018:
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Las Vegas' McCarran International Airport (LAS) – Three times daily service.
Oakland International Airport (OAK) – Twice daily service.
Portland International Airport (PDX) – Once daily service.
Salt Lake City International Airport (SLC) – Up to three times daily service.
San Francisco International Airport (SFO) – Twice daily service.
San José International Airport (SJC) – Twice daily service.
Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA) – Once daily service.
"JetBlue will continue to offer its current frequencies of nonstop service between Long Beach and New York-JFK, Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport (FLL), Austin-Bergstrom International Airport (AUS), Reno=Tahoe International Airport (RNO) and Sacramento International Airport (SMF)" the company release said.
Text and headline amended to indicate JetBlue previously gave up one slot for Hawaiian Airlines in early 2018/i>
