JetBlue to Launch Flights to Paris from Various U.S. Airports in 2023

Following recent indications of its European expansion beyond London, JetBlue Airways confirmed on Wednesday that it will offer new service to Paris in summer 2023. The airline aims to provide lower fares for transatlantic travel while maintaining quality service.

In a statement regarding the new Paris route, JetBlue declared, “We will uniquely challenge the high-fare legacy airlines that have relied on joint ventures and alliances to dominate these routes for years.”

The major U.S. airlines have established formal collaborations with European partners to facilitate smoother connections. American Airlines is linked with British Airways through the oneworld Alliance, while Delta Air Lines partners with Air France, KLM, and Virgin Atlantic for transatlantic services. United Airlines is part of the Star Alliance network, which includes Lufthansa, Austrian, and TAP Air Portugal.

Beginning summer 2023, JetBlue will enhance its competitive stance by offering nonstop flights from New York City’s John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) to Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport (CDG), with plans to introduce nonstop service from Boston Logan International Airport (BOS) to CDG at a later date. JetBlue mentioned that bookings for the Paris flights will open in the coming months.

JetBlue made its debut in the transatlantic market in August 2021 by acquiring slots at London Heathrow that became available as travel slowed during the pandemic. This summer, the airline successfully secured permission to make these slots a permanent fixture. On October 29, JetBlue introduced a second daily flight between New York’s JFK and London Gatwick, increasing its total to three daily flights between New York and London. JetBlue also launched flights from Boston to Gatwick in August and to Heathrow in September.

The airline operates across the Atlantic with Airbus A321 LR (long-range) aircraft, which are narrow-body planes designed for longer flights compared to earlier models. For its transatlantic journeys, the A321 LR features 114 standard coach seats, some with added legroom, along with a 24-seat Mint premium class—JetBlue’s equivalent of business class offering lie-flat seats, including two rows of 'Mint Studio' seating equipped with 22-inch TVs, extra storage, and space for a guest. Next year, JetBlue will start receiving the latest A321 XLR version, capable of flying up to about 5,400 miles nonstop, surpassing the range of the 737 and similar single-aisle aircraft by 1,000 miles.

JetBlue is known for its unique onboard features, including free, unlimited high-speed Wi-Fi on all flights, which also applies to international routes. The airline’s planes are equipped with seatback screens that offer live TV and movie streaming. For dining, JetBlue collaborates with New York’s farm-to-table restaurant group Dig to craft seasonal menus across all service classes. Additionally, passengers can enjoy complimentary self-serve snacks from a 'pantry' available on JetBlue flights.

Though JetBlue is among the most recognized low-cost airlines flying from the U.S. to Europe, it faces competition in the growing market of affordable long-haul travel. New entrants include French bee from France, Level, the Spanish budget arm of IAG (which owns British Airways, Aer Lingus, and Iberia), Play, a revival of the Icelandic airline Wow, and Norse Atlantic Airways, a rebranding of the former Norwegian Air. As international airfare prices cause many travelers to rethink their plans, these budget options provide a glimmer of hope for more economical transatlantic journeys.

Reporting contributed by Barbara Peterson.