JetBlue set to bring more than 400 jobs to the
region with its first pilot and flight attendant base outside of
the continental U.S.
JetBlue (NASDAQ: JBLU) today announced plans to open a pilot and
flight attendant crew base at Luis Muñoz Marín International
Airport (SJU) in San Juan, Puerto Rico, underscoring the airline’s
commitment to growth and investment in the region. JetBlue, which
offers its customers a unique combination of low fares and great
service, is the largest carrier in San Juan, which is one of the
airline’s focus cities. The news coincides with JetBlue’s 22nd
anniversary of service to the island and comes after the airline’s
recently announced plans to expand service from San Juan into more
U.S., Caribbean, and Latin America destinations.
The new crew base is expected to open by the end of 2024, and by
2025 bring more than 400 local jobs to San Juan, contributing
significant economic and community impact. Stationing pilots and
inflight crewmembers in San Juan will not only bolster job creation
on the island but also enhance JetBlue’s service and operational
capabilities throughout the Caribbean and beyond.
“We’re so excited to base hundreds more crewmembers right here
in San Juan, where we are proud to be the largest airline with
plans to grow even more,” said Warren Christie, JetBlue’s chief
operating officer. “The new crew base will support our operation as
we grow and benefit the local economy in a place we are proud to
call home.”
“This great announcement from JetBlue is a testament to the
potential of our Island and the growth we have had in the tourism
sector over the past three years,” said Puerto Rico Governor Pedro
R. Pierluisi. “This new crew operation base at the Luis Muñoz Marín
International Airport, in addition to creating hundreds of jobs,
confirms the confidence of the airline in the Puerto Rico market. I
thank JetBlue for choosing our Island for its continued economic
growth on our Island.”
This operational expansion will station up to 120 pilots and up
to 325 inflight crewmembers in San Juan, with the base opening in
phases. Assigned pilots and inflight crewmembers will begin and end
trips in San Juan, allowing JetBlue to further diversify its crew’s
geography to better recover during irregular operations, such as
severe weather. Currently, JetBlue crew bases include Boston, Fort
Lauderdale, Newark, New York City, Orlando, and Los Angeles. In
2020, JetBlue added a maintenance base in San Juan for its
technicians to provide aircraft maintenance and related
services.
“The new San Juan crew base is truly a milestone in the island’s
air access history and evidence of the strength of the
long-standing partnership between Puerto Rico and JetBlue,” said
Carlos Mercado Santiago, executive director of the Puerto Rico
Tourism Company. “As a key domestic and international flight
gateway in the Caribbean, the facilities at Luis Muñoz Marín
International Airport will provide additional network expansion
opportunities for the airline, as well as create new local jobs and
increase the tourism industry’s contribution to Puerto Rico’s
economic growth.”
JetBlue plans expansion in Puerto Rico with service to even
more places
The announcement of JetBlue’s newest crew base comes just weeks
after the airline announced it would be further expanding its
network from San Juan with the addition of six new destinations
across the U.S. East Coast, the Caribbean and Latin America,
enhancing connectivity and offering more choices to customers. In
July, it will also introduce its popular Mint experience for the
first time on a daily flight between San Juan and New York's John
F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK). The addition of Mint, with
its lie-flat seats and an elevated dining experience, will mark a
milestone in premium travel for Puerto Rico. By this winter,
JetBlue will offer nonstop service between Puerto Rico and 18
cities in the U.S., Latin America and the Caribbean.
In addition to positions created by the crew base, the planned
network expansion will create approximately 80 additional new jobs
in San Juan, spanning from frontline operational positions to
technical operations roles, and will stimulate economic activity
across the region, leading to further job growth. Currently,
JetBlue employs over 370 crewmembers across Puerto Rico, supporting
the airline's operations in San Juan, Aguadilla, and Ponce.
“We are so proud that our superior product and service has
resonated with Puerto Ricans and the many visitors we bring to the
island,” said Christie. “As we set out to connect more people and
destinations to Puerto Rico, we will do it by ensuring our staffing
and our service meet the needs of our customers and standards they
expect from JetBlue.”
For more than two decades, JetBlue has been known for its
industry-leading travel experience, which provides every customer
with the most legroom in coach1; seatback entertainment at every
seat; free, fast and unlimited Fly-Fi broadband internet 2;
complimentary, brand-name snacks and drinks; and award-winning
customer service.
A community partner in Puerto Rico
JetBlue and its dedicated crewmembers are committed to giving
back to the Boricua community and are proud to have supported
numerous charitable causes in Puerto Rico over the years. Donating
time to a variety of initiatives, including volunteer projects,
conservation efforts, fundraising activities, airport events and
community care, giving back is part of JetBlue’s role in the
communities it serves.
In 2022, JetBlue hosted its signature event, "Fly Like a Girl,"
for the first time in Puerto Rico. This event featured girls ages 4
to 14 years old from Puerto Rico visiting JetBlue's crewmembers to
learn about careers in aviation, and experience boarding an
aircraft, aiming to spark their interest in the aviation industry.
Over the past decade, the JetBlue Foundation has contributed travel
certificates and more than $280,000 in grants and in-kind support
to nonprofit organizations in Puerto Rico, primarily supporting
science, technology, engineering, math and aviation education
initiatives.
“I’m so proud of our crewmembers and their commitment to make a
positive impact in the communities we serve, including here in
Puerto Rico,” said Hector Camacho, JetBlue’s general manager for
Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. “Whether through hands-on
community engagement or volunteerism, our team is dedicated to
serving our customers, our communities and fellow crewmembers on
the island. I am certain that our crewmember’s commitment to give
back is the secret ingredient that makes our airline so
special.”
As the largest carrier on the island, JetBlue is dedicated to
investing in the infrastructure and community of Puerto Rico. This
new crew base is part of a broader strategy to deepen its ties and
commitment to the island, ensuring that the airline continues to
contribute to its thriving tourism industry and economic
stability.
About JetBlue
JetBlue is New York's Hometown Airline®, and a leading carrier
in Boston, Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood, Los Angeles, Orlando, and San
Juan. JetBlue, known for its low fares and great service, carries
customers to more than 100 destinations throughout the United
States, Latin America, the Caribbean, Canada, and Europe. For more
information and the best fares, visit jetblue.com.
1.
JetBlue offers the most legroom in coach
based on average fleet-wide seat pitch for U.S. airlines.
2.
Fly-Fi® and live television are available
on all JetBlue-operated flights. Availability and coverage area may
vary by aircraft. Details on inflight wi-fi and entertainment:
https://www.jetblue.com/flying-with-us.
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JetBlue Corporate Communications Tel: +1.718.709.3089
corpcomm@jetblue.com
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