Unfortunate news for Long Islanders this week: JetBlue Airways has scrapped its planned nonstop service between Long Island MacArthur Airport and Boston Logan International Airport just two days before the first flight was scheduled to depart.
Back in January, we reported that JetBlue had announced the new route, with service originally slated to begin on April 30th. But the airline abruptly canceled the launch, citing low demand and broader economic uncertainty as the main reasons.
Passengers who had already booked tickets can request a refund or rebook their trip from JFK Airport instead.
In a statement to News 12 Long Island, JetBlue said:
“We are canceling our launch of this route because bookings have not met expectations. This is one of the steps we are taking to manage our business through softer-than-expected travel demand this year and economic uncertainty.”
The Town of Islip echoed JetBlue’s reasoning in a comment to Greater Long Island, saying:
“Consumer confidence has decreased, discretionary credit card spending is declining, and the total cost of leisure travel—hotel and airfare—is up.”
Why This Cancellation Makes Sense
As a Long Island native, I was genuinely excited about this route. Getting to New England from the island isn’t easy because of traffic.Also, flying from MacArthur Airport is a much more pleasant experience than dealing with JFK. It seemed like a win-win.
But looking closer, the route may not have been as practical as it appeared:
- For travelers in Nassau County or those already near JFK,getting to MacArthur adds time and inconvenience.
- Folks out on the North or South Fork likely wouldn’t have opted for a flight to Boston, either.
- And for Boston travelers are closer to the action in New York City when flying to JFK. That alone makes more sense than heading to Islip.
It was a promising idea on paper, but in reality, the route likely wouldn’t have attracted enough passengers to be profitable. JetBlue may have made the right call pulling the plug before it got off the ground.
Timing Lines Up with Financial Pressures
The cancellation came just as JetBlue released its Q1 2025 earnings. The airline highlighted strong operational improvements and cost reductions (operating expenses were down 21% year-over-year), but also reported an overall unprofitable quarter.
JetBlue appears to be tightening its focus, targeting routes that align with its broader growth strategy like JetForward. JetForward aims to grow the East Coast leisure market. The airline has accomplished this by funneling Boston-based customers through JFK to vacation destinations. For what seemed like an outlier route addition, the Boston–Long Island route likely didn’t fit into that plan.
Looking Ahead: Still Reasons for Optimism
Although JetBlue’s Boston service won’t be happening from MacArthur, the airport is still seeing growth. JetBlue has only been operating there for under a year, and Avelo Airlines is also set to begin service soon.
Long Islanders can also look forward to future infrastructure upgrades—like an Amtrak line connecting the island to the Northeast Corridor—that will make travel to New England even more accessible.
