JetBlue Airways has reported what it describes as strong progress toward profitability in the third quarter of 2025, as the US airline continues to implement its JetForward transformation strategy ahead of 2026.
Chief executive Joanna Geraghty said the company’s performance had “significantly improved” during the quarter, with both revenue and costs coming in at the better end of guidance ranges.
“JetBlue’s progress toward profitability is gaining momentum as a result of the swift actions we’ve taken to implement our JetForward strategy and set a strong foundation for 2026,” she said.
“This wouldn’t be possible without our 23,000 crewmembers delivering reliable and caring service in the face of a challenging summer.”
President Marty St. George added that JetBlue was “providing customers with more opportunities to choose our differentiated product and service,” pointing to the carrier’s expansion in Fort Lauderdale and new reciprocal loyalty schemes through its Blue Sky collaboration.
Fort Lauderdale focus
JetBlue reaffirmed its position as the largest airline at Fort Lauderdale, outlining plans to launch 17 new routes and increase frequencies on 12 high-demand services from the Florida hub in 2025.
The carrier expects to offer its largest-ever schedule from the airport, up 35% year-on-year, with more than 25 daily flights featuring its Mint premium lie-flat service.
A dedicated Mint® base for cabin crew is due to open in early 2026, creating additional jobs in South Florida.
JetForward gains and operational performance
The airline said it remains on track to deliver $290 million (£238m) in incremental EBIT from its JetForward programme in 2025. It achieved $90 million in incremental EBIT in the first half of the year, bringing cumulative gains to $180 million.
Operationally, JetBlue reported on-time performance improvements of two percentage points in the third quarter, while customer satisfaction scores remained up by double digits year-to-date.
Expanding network and partnerships
The carrier continues to strengthen its East Coast leisure network, announcing new services from New York JFK and Boston Logan to Vero Beach and Daytona Beach, and from Tampa and Fort Myers to Islip, New York.
Cross-selling with United Airlines is expected to begin in early 2026, offering customers access to United’s global network.
The two airlines also launched reciprocal loyalty accrual and redemption, allowing members to earn and spend TrueBlue points across both carriers.
JetBlue plans to open new lounges at New York JFK later this year and Boston in 2026, while introducing domestic first class in 2026, with a quarter of its non-Mint® fleet to be retrofitted next year.
The airline also announced a partnership with Amazon’s Project Kuiper to enhance onboard Wi-Fi connectivity, with rollout expected from 2027.
Financial results
System capacity in the third quarter increased by 0.9% year-on-year, at the upper end of guidance. Operating revenue totalled $2.3 billion (£1.9bn), down 1.8% from the same period last year, with revenue per available seat mile (RASM) down 2.7%.
Operating expenses per available seat mile (CASM) fell by 0.1%, while CASM excluding fuel and special items rose 3.7%. The airline’s average fuel price for the quarter was $2.49 per gallon, in line with expectations.
Capital expenditure for the quarter was $281 million, below guidance. JetBlue maintained liquidity of $2.9 billion, excluding a $600 million revolving credit facility.
Outlook
JetBlue said it remains “optimistic” about the demand outlook through the remainder of the year, noting continued strong performance in premium segments.
Chief financial officer Ursula Hurley said the airline had “improved the midpoint of our full-year cost guidance by half a point, despite capacity roughly one point lower than initial guidance,” highlighting the benefits of efficiency and cost-reduction efforts.
She added that the carrier was “pleased with the progress we’ve made in the second half toward reaching our $290 million JetForward target,” and confident in the momentum heading into 2026.
