Feeling the pinch of airfare inflation? On Tuesday JetBlue Airways Corp. announced an expansion of its transatlantic service with daily nonstop, round-trip flights from New York City to Paris beginning on June 29, 2023.
Main cabin fares start at $479, a price tag that’s roughly 60% lower than similar overnight departures on Delta Air Lines Inc. and American Airlines Group Inc. Delta charges $1,222 for basic economy while American Airlines offers the same route for $1,152. American’s price is typical for economy, and the cheapest for similar trips range between $1,000 and $2,400, according to data compiled by Google.
In the premium Mint cabin — which features lie-flat seats and a sliding door — fares start at $1,899. That’s still a discount among legacy carriers: A similar, luxury experience on Delta One can cost $5,991 and American’s premium economy, which has significantly fewer amenities than JetBlue’s Mint, runs over $2,500.
The announcement marks as the company’s second transatlantic direct flight, after it launched service to London in 2021.
“Our successful London service proves customers can book low fares without compromising great service,” said chief executive Robin Hayes in a press release.
The economy price from New York’s John F. Kennedy’s International to the Paris Charles de Gaulle airport is strikingly low as ticket costs have surged. According to Cirium, the average one-way economy ticket from US to Europe was $428 in September 2022, the most recent date available, excluding taxes and fees. Demand for air travel has overwhelmed the airline industry that’s still rebuilding from pandemic restrictions — there are fewer flights and fewer seats.
The announcement comes as the Department of Justice challenges JetBlue’s $3.8 billion deal with Spirit Airlines Inc. with an antitrust lawsuit, claiming the merger would lead to higher prices for consumers. The news of the lawsuit drove JetBlue shares down as much as 3% on Tuesday.
The catch? The low prices probably won’t last. The company launched a similar airfare for London at just $202; now the round trip cost starts at $523, a price that Google considers “typical” for economy.
