Bonjour, JetBlue.
The New York-based carrier formally announced details on Tuesday about its much-anticipated new service to Paris, France, which will take off June 29.
JetBlue Flight 1407 will depart John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) at 5:09 p.m. and land at 6:55 a.m. the next day in Terminal 2B at Paris-Charles de Gaulle Airport (CDG). The westbound Flight 1408 will depart at 8:55 a.m. and land back in New York at 11:51 a.m. local time on the same day.
Though it may no be intuitive, JetBlue chose Flight Number 1407 in honor of Bastille Day, which is celebrated annually on July 14.
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Flights are now on sale at JetBlue’s website and through online travel agencies.
To celebrate the new service, JetBlue is offering introductory round-trip fares that start at $479 in economy and $1,899 in business class for departures from New York, and economy and business-class fares from 399 euros (~$425) and 1,299 (~$1,400), respectively, for flights originating in Paris. (You can find the full terms and conditions of the fare sale at the bottom of this story.)
You can redeem TrueBlue points for travel to Paris, but if JetBlue’s pricing to London is any indication, the redemption rates likely won’t be as good as domestic awards.
As with JetBlue’s existing transatlantic service to London, the carrier will deploy the 138-seat Airbus A321LR, or “long-range,” on its new daily flight to Paris.
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These single-aisle jets are outfitted with two extra-spacious front-row Mint Studios, 22 Mint suites with direct aisle access and 114 standard “Core” economy seats, 24 of which are in an extra-legroom Even More Space configuration.
Though service to the City of Lights will commence from New York, JetBlue will follow up “later this year” with a new route from its Boston hub to Paris, Joanna Geraghty, JetBlue’s president and chief operating officer, told TPG in an interview.
Transatlantic expansion has long been in the playbook for JetBlue. For years, the airline teased that it would eventually cross the pond, a feat that it accomplished in August 2021 with its first-ever service to London.
Since then, JetBlue has added additional flights from New York and Boston to both Heathrow Airport (LHR) and London Gatwick Airport (LGW). Service to Paris was formally announced in November, though the airline didn’t provide launch details as part of its initial announcement.
Despite giving flyers just a three-month heads-up about the launch, Geraghty believes that the airline’s low fares and award-winning passenger experience will quickly resonate with travelers.
“We’re quite confident there,” Geraghty said, adding that “it’s obviously squarely in the middle of the summer peak. Based on at least what we’re seeing with leisure, there’ll be more than enough customers that are going to want to JetBlue over to Paris in the summer.”
All economy travelers — regardless of the fare purchased — can bring a full-size carry-on bag and enjoy a host of complimentary onboard amenities, including blankets, pillows, amenity kits, high-speed Wi-Fi, on-demand movies and TV shows, universal power outlets, USB ports and even a walk-up snack bar.
Meal service is also included with all fares. Economy travelers can enjoy customizable meals from New York-based Dig restaurant group, as well as complimentary beer, wine and liquor.
Those seated in the pointy end of the plane are in for a treat with JetBlue’s delectable dining options from New York’s Delicious Hospitality Group.
Final catering details are still being prepared in advance of the June 29 inaugural, Geraghty told TPG, but expect French flair (perhaps warm croissants for breakfast) on the menu.
All of these valuable inclusions, combined with low fares, will keep travelers coming back to JetBlue, Geraghty believes. The New York-to-Paris market is especially crowded with a number of airlines competing for both the deep-pocketed premium passengers and those looking for deals.
Two ultra-low-cost carriers — Norse Atlantic Airways and French Bee — already offer flights between the New York area and Paris starting at just about $450. Meanwhile, La Compagnie, an all-business-class carrier, flies daily between Newark and Paris-Orly Airport (ORY) with round-trip fares from around $2,000.
It’ll be interesting to see how JetBlue’s flights perform, but the carrier isn’t worried about the competition. “We’re not at all concerned because we have such a strong U.S. point of sale to fuel a narrowbody flight once a day going to Paris,” Geraghty said.
With the upcoming Paris launch now just three months away, all eyes now turn to JetBlue’s network planners, who are busy plotting the airline’s next transatlantic destination.
With some luck (and lots of coaxing), that’ll likely be Amsterdam. JetBlue recently petitioned the U.S. Department of Transportation for help getting access to slots at the Amsterdam Airport Schiphol (AMS).
So far, the airline has been unsuccessful in securing takeoff and landing rights to the capital of the Netherlands. “Entrenched legacy carriers and joint ventures that have been around for years are impeding the ability for others to grow,” according to Geraghty.
If JetBlue eventually wins the slots it needs to serve Amsterdam, it will add flights there. “We can do them both,” Geraghty said, referring to flying to Paris and Amsterdam using the five new Airbus A321LR jets that JetBlue plans to receive this year.
“We’re continuing to knock on their door and hope that at some point they open it and let us in,” Geraghty said.
JetBlue’s $479 Paris fare sale details
- Requires roundtrip purchase.
- Requires Saturday night stay.
- Book by March 9.
- Travel from Sept. 10 to Dec. 8 and Sept. 17 to Dec. 12.
- 21-day advanced purchase required.
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