Have you booked a flight with JetBlue and wondered if you are flying on its new Airbus A220? We did some research into JetBlue’s A220 routes to help you determine whether you may be flying on this new airplane or not.
In this article, we will discuss some of JetBlue’s A220 routes and other things you should know about when flying on this new, innovative aircraft type.
What Routes are the JetBlue A220 used on?
The majority of JetBlue’s A220 Routes Depart Out of Boston Logan International Airport.
In the short history of JetBlue’s Airbus A220 operations, it is very noticeable that they decided to operate the majority of their A220 service out of Boston Logan International Airport, which makes sense because it’s one of its focus cities. With that in mind, the Airbus A220 is primarily used on the East Coast in the United States.
Much of the service out of Boston has the Airbus taking passengers down to the Southern portion of the United States. There are also some destinations in the Caribbean thrown into the mix as well, however, some of these routes are only offered on a seasonal basis.
New York Kennedy International Airport Also Has JetBlue Airbus A220 Flights
JetBlue also operates the A220 out of Kennedy International Airport in New York, initially at a much lesser scale compared to its Boston service. However, with the phasing out of the Embraer 190 fleet which JFK was home base to many, more Airbus A220 operations are now coming from New York.
Out of New York, if you’re heading to the Midwest destinations of Minneapolis, Kansas City, or Chicago, chances are you might be flying on the Airbus A220.
JetBlue Flies the A220 on Its Shorter Routes Although It’s Capable of Flying Transcontinental
The airline has been utilizing this newer aircraft on some of its regional-type routes or destinations within 2.5 hours from the departure airport.
This makes sense because the airline only operated the Embraer 190 on its shorter routes. The Airbus A220 was purchased to replace the Embraer 190.
However, it should be noted that the Airbus A220 has a total range of about 3600 nautical miles or 4100 standard miles. That means that this aircraft type is more than fully capable of transcontinental flights across the United States.
JetBlue has only demonstrated the A220’s range capability on its route from Boston to Phoenix, which is JetBlue’s A220 longest flight in terms of duration and distance.
List of JetBlue A220’s Routes We’ve Identified
Below are the routes that we have identified JetBlue Airways has used the Airbus A220 since it was welcomed to the airline in 2021.
- Boston (KBOS) to Bermuda (TXKF)
- Boston (KBOS) to Providenciales (MBPV)
- Boston (KBOS) to Houston (KIAH)
- Boston (KBOS) to Orlando (KMCO)
- Boston (KBOS) to Tampa (KTPA)
- Boston (KBOS) to Atlanta (KATL)
- Boston (KBOS) to Nashville (KBNA)
- Boston (KBOS) to Charleston (KCLS)
- Boston (KBOS) to San Antonio (KSAT)
- Boston(KBOS) to Austin (KAUS)
- Boston (KBOS) to New York (KJFK)
- Boston (KBOS) to Kansas City (KMCI)
- Boston (KBOS) to Key West (KEYW)
- Boston (KBOS) to Minneapolis (KMSP)
- Boston (KBOS) to Chicago (KORD)
- Boston (KBOS) to Jacksonville (KJAX)
- Boston (KBOS) to Charlotte (KCLT)
- Boston (KBOS) to New Orleans (KMSY)
- Boston (KBOS) to Raleigh Durham (KRDU)
- Boston (KBOS) to San Juan (TJSJ)
- New York (KJFK) to Kansas City (KMCI)
- New York (KJFK) to Minneapolis (KMSP)
- New York (KJFK) to Milwaukee (KMKE)
- New York (KJFK) to Portland (KPWM)
- New York (KJFK) to New Orleans (KMSY)
- New York (KJFK) to Savannah (KSAV)
When Did JetBlue Get the Airbus A220?
The inaugural flight for JetBlue’s A220 took place on April 26th, 2021 from Boston to Tampa, Florida. Since then, JetBlue has been rotating new aircraft into service as they are delivered.
The A220 is Supposed to Replace the Embraer 190 by 2026
JetBlue decided to acquire the Airbus A220 to replace the aging Embraer fleet. They estimated that the A220 can operate 30% at less cost compared to the Embraer 190, mostly stemming from fleet maintenance expenses.
The airline wanted to shift over to an all-Airbus fleet which will also help with aircraft familiarity amongst the pilots and maintenance staff.
This approach was modeled after Southwest Airlines, which only operates Boeing 737 aircraft.
There is no need for them to devote time, money, and resources to teach maintenance staff or pilots about multiple aircraft types spanning different manufacturers.
The airline put in an order for 100 new Airbus to be in its possession once the order is fulfilled.
As of September 2024, only 37 of the new A220s have been delivered and operational, leaving 63 more aircraft still waiting to be delivered.
It is also worth noting that several airframes are currently parked, not in operation due to issues with the Pratt & Whitney PW1500 engines that the aircraft uses.
Is JetBlue’s A220 Comfortable to Fly On?
The Seating Configuration is an Upgrade from the JetBlue Airbus A320 Family
The Airbus A220 is built for comfort. It is designed to accommodate 140 passengers which is about a handful less than what they carry on their A320s.
But a unique characteristic of the A220 is its seating configuration.
The new Airbus is configured like a normal narrowbody aircraft, with one aisle going down the middle of the airplane however unlike the Airbus A320 family, the seats are configured in two columns with one column containing three seats per row, the other featuring two seats per row.
That means if you’re lucky enough to purchase a seat in the column with the row of two seats, you don’t have to worry about a middle seat.
But when compared to the Embraer 190, the seating column configuration is a downgrade because the 190 only had two columns of two seats per row. So, you had a 100% percent chance of not being stuck in a middle seat.
JetBlue probably opted to include a column of three seats per row to increase the number of passengers carried per flight thus potentially increasing the amount of revenue generated per route flown.
You’ll Be More Than Comfy Considering The Shorter Routes the A220 Flies
JetBlue also has set aside 25 of the 140 seats on the A220 for their “Even More Space” seating.
With “Even More Space” seating, you will acquire 7 inches more legroom than what you would experience in the coach class.
With JetBlue’s A220 service, you also get all the normal amenities that you would receive on any JetBlue flight like free wifi, free live tv, movies & entertainment, and Sirius XM satellite radio.
One thing to note is that there is no Mint service abroad for JetBlue Airbus A220s. Mint is JetBlue’s premium “first class” service that is only featured on select Airbus A320s & A321s.
Overall, if you are on a two-hour flight aboard an A220, you have nothing to fear in terms of being comfortable.
You can probably expect JetBlue’s A220 service to be one of the most comfortable experiences in the United States domestic airline market today.
Is JetBlue’s Airbus A220 a safe aircraft to fly on?
JetBlue’s Airbus A220 is considered a safe and reliable aircraft to fly on. The aircraft boasts advanced technology and modern features that contribute to its excellent safety record. In its short operational life, there has yet to be a major accident.
Equipped with state-of-the-art avionics systems and an emphasis on fuel efficiency, the A220 combines performance and safety. The aircraft’s advanced fly-by-wire controls enhance flight stability and responsiveness, while its aerodynamic design contributes to a smooth and comfortable flying experience.
Furthermore, the A220 has undergone rigorous testing and certification processes to ensure its compliance with stringent safety standards set by aviation authorities.
JetBlue maintains a strong commitment to safety by adhering to regular maintenance checks, adhering to industry best practices, and investing in the training and competence of its pilots and crew members.
Overall, passengers can feel confident in the safety and reliability of JetBlue’s Airbus A220 when choosing to fly with this aircraft.
Sources
https://www.flightradar24.com/
https://simpleflying.com/jetblue-been-flying-its-airbus-a220s-october-2022/
