There are changes coming to the Miami International Airport (MIA), and although some are new and exciting, others, like JetBlue pulling the plug on their routes there are a bit more confusing for passengers. For those potentially affected passengers who have tickets for this summer, simmer down, as operations are scheduled to continue through to September 3, but if you are planning to fly to or from Miami after that date, you will need to look at refunds or other alternatives.
JetBlue is known for being a low cost airline alternative, but they are also ranked amongst the best, and that balance means that when it is not profitable for them to maintain a route, like what is happening with Miami, they really have to take that into consideration in order to keep being operational. The flights out of Miami were an experiment for the company, as they have only stated doing them in 2021, but now, four years later, the data is in and it is not positive.
The company already gave the airport the heads-up and confirmed to the Miami Herald that customers with flights booked to or from MIA can either get a full refund or reroute to a nearby airport.
JetBlue and their flights from Miami, an expensive mistake for the airline
While not going to MIA means that their presence in South Florida will again be less than desirable, the reality did not pan out as they had planned when they started this endeavor. Considering that Miami is a major tourism hub and it is a strategic location for Latin American travel, the airline considered it a solid bet as an expansion route. They started by offering up to 14 daily flights from major cities like New York, Boston, Newark, L.A., and Hartford, but demand did not live up to expectations and over time, JetBlue began pulling back, trimming routes until it finally decided to pull the plug altogether.
“We continually evaluate our network performance and make adjustments as needed,” JetBlue’s corporate communications director, Derek Dombrowski, told the Miami Herald “To free up aircraft for new routes, we have made the decision to terminate some unprofitable flights, including service between Boston and Miami.”
For those panicking about their flights booked for after September 3, you do not need to panic, MIA is not the only airport in the area, and JetBlue will continue to operate out of them. For starters, if you prefer a refund, that will not be a problem, and you will be able to ask for a full refund and get your money back on your original payment method without any fees or penalties. If that is not acceptable, JetBlue operates from the Fort Lauderdale (FLL) and Palm Beach (PBI) airports, which may not be as convenient for you, but should still get you where you need to go.
Whatever option you choose you will be able to sort it out through the JetBlue website, their app, or by contacting customer service.
Although this move may seem surprising, it is the symptom of a larger problem and trend in the airline industry that started before the pandemic but that was really brought to light because of it. There is a lesser demand for travel, rising inflation that drives up ticket prices, high fuel and airport costs, and tighter government regulation, all of which are making it hard for airlines to make a profit, and their solution to treat customers worse to trim costs is not helping the cause.
JetBlue has not hinted at any further airport exits just yet, but more changes could be coming.