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JetBlue lands in Minneapolis/St. Paul, making the Twin Cities the airline’s 102nd destination

JetBlue Airways today announced the start of service at Minneapolis–Saint Paul International Airport (MSP), with the airline’s inaugural flight from Boston Logan International Airport (BOS) touching down just before 9 a.m. local time. The new flights in the Twin Cities mark the first-ever scheduled JetBlue service in Minnesota and bring a new option for travelers with the airline operating the route three times daily.

All Minneapolis/St. Paul flights will be operated on JetBlue’s Airbus A320 aircraft.

JetBlue aircraft slide show:

JetBlue adds new cities and routes as it refines its West Coast strategy

JetBlue Airways today announced it is advancing its West Coast strategy following its successful Mint® expansion in new markets like San Diego, Las Vegas and Seattle/Tacoma over the past year. The latest series of network enhancements is designed to better meet the needs of coast-to-coast travelers facing limited competition and – with the most legroom in coach, unlimited free snacks and complimentary Fly-Fi high-speed Internet, live television and movies – plays to JetBlue’s strength as a favorite choice for transcontinental travel.

The enhancements bring a number of schedule changes in 2018:

Launching JetBlue service in Ontario, California, Steamboat Springs, Colorado, and Bozeman, Montana.
Refining its Long Beach, Calif. schedule to better meet the needs of the market.
Increasing service in Burbank, California.
Adding frequencies on popular cross-country routes.
Expanding seasonal service in Palm Springs, California, along with Mint for the holiday season.

Get Onboard in Ontario, California.

JetBlue will expand its L.A.-metro service with new nonstop flights between Ontario International Airport (ONT) and New York’s John F. KennedyInternational Airport (JFK). JetBlue, already a leader in transcontinental travel, will be the only airline to offer nonstop service to the East Coast from Ontario. Service begins September 5, 2018 and Ontario will be the 73^rd nonstop JetBlue destination from New York-JFK.

Ontario International Airport will become the tenth airport served in California by JetBlue and serves some six million people in San Bernardino and Riverside counties, as well as portions of Orange and Los Angeles counties. The Inland Empire has become one of the fastest growing metro areas in Southern California due to its affordable home prices, new construction, and a growing nightlife and cultural scene. The San Bernardino-Riverside-Ontario metro area is on track to grow by some two million people over the next three decades and Ontario International Airport has demonstrated it is committed to supporting that growth.

JetBlue previously served Ontario between 2000 and 2008 and is returning a decade later, encouraged by the surge in customer demand in the Inland Empire, as well as the airport’s leadership position on smart growth in Southern California. Ontario was originally JetBlue’s sixth overall destination and the very first on the West Coast.

Daily Schedule between New York (JFK) and Ontario (ONT)
Beginning September 5, 2018

JFK-ONT Flight #355				ONT-JFK Flight #354
7:12 p.m. – 10:39 p.m.				11:59 p.m. – 8:24 a.m. (+1)

Three New Routes in Steamboat Springs, Colorado.

JetBlue will launch new, seasonal service in Steamboat Springs with three nonstop routes connecting the internationally-known resort destination with three of the airline’s focus cities. JetBlue flights between Steamboat and Boston Logan International Airport (BOS), Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport (FLL) and Long Beach Airport (LGB) will begin December 15, 2018. JetBlue will be the only airline to fly nonstop from Steamboat to both Boston and South Florida.

JetBlue will operate at Steamboat/Hayden Airport (HDN), just 30 minutes from downtown Steamboat Springs.

Schedule between Boston (BOS) and Steamboat/Hayden (HDN)
Wednesdays & Saturdays; Beginning December 15, 2018

BOS-HDN Flight #1227				HDN-BOS Flight #1228
9:14 a.m. – 12:16 p.m.				1:11 p.m. – 7:17 p.m.

Schedule between Fort Lauderdale/Hollywood (FLL) and Steamboat/Hayden (HDN)
Saturdays; Beginning December 15, 2018

FLL-HDN Flight #45				HDN-FLL Flight #48
7:31 a.m. – 10:27 a.m.				11:22 a.m. – 5:20 p.m.

Schedule between Long Beach (LGB) and Steamboat/Hayden (HDN)
Wednesdays & Saturdays; Beginning December 15, 2018

LGB-HDN Flight #820				HDN-LGB Flight #821
11:14 a.m. – 2:15 p.m.				3:00 p.m. – 4:14 p.m.

JetBlue meets Montana

JetBlue will also grow further in the western U.S. with its first-ever scheduled service in Montana. The airline will operate seasonal flights between Bozeman Yellowstone International Airport (BZN) and Long Beach beginning December 13, 2018.

Schedule between Long Beach (LGB) and Bozeman (BZN)
Thursdays and Sundays; Beginning December 13, 2018

LGB-BZN Flight #10				BZN-LGB Flight #9
10:48 a.m. – 2:27 p.m.				3:12 p.m. – 4:51 p.m.

Burbank Meets Boston

JetBlue will also add service at Hollywood Burbank Airport, where it has operated since 2005. JetBlue, already the only airline to offer cross-country service in Burbank, will add a second northeast destination with nonstop flights to Boston. JetBlue offers more nonstop routes between the Golden State and New England than any other airline.

Hollywood Burbank Airport is approximately 12 miles north of downtown Los Angeles.

Daily Schedule between Boston (BOS) and Burbank (BUR)
Beginning September 5, 2018

BOS-BUR Flight #2339				BUR-BOS Flight #2338
3:28 p.m. – 6:48 p.m.				8:08 p.m. – 4:40 a.m. (+1)

In It For The Long Haul

JetBlue will also boost frequencies on several popular cross-country routes in California and beyond. In Burbank, JetBlue will build on the success of its existing New York-JFK flight with the addition of a second daily nonstop roundtrip on the route. The added New York-JFK flight will give customers on both ends of the transcon routes new daylight travel choices.

Daily Schedule between New York (JFK) and Burbank (BUR)
Beginning September 5, 2018

JFK-BUR Flight #2359				BUR-JFK Flight #2358
7:43 a.m. – 10:51 a.m.				11:41 a.m. – 8:05 p.m.

JFK-BUR Flight #359				BUR-JFK Flight #358
5:23 p.m. – 8:39 p.m.				9:59 p.m. – 6:26 a.m. (+1)

Similarly, JetBlue will add a second daily flight between Boston and Long Beach beginning September 5, 2018. The new Boston addition will also operate as a daylight flight in both directions and provide a new choice for customers traveling between New England and Southern California.

Daily Schedule between Boston (BOS) and Long Beach (LGB)
Beginning September 5, 2018

BOS-LGB Flight #2405				LGB-BOS Flight #2404
9:16 a.m. – 12:35 p.m.				9:58 a.m. – 6:28 p.m.

BOS-LGB Flight #405				LGB-BOS Flight #504
6:13 p.m. – 9:33 p.m.				9:35 p.m. – 6:02 a.m. (+1)

Elsewhere in the west, JetBlue is adding a second daily frequency between New York-JFK and Salt Lake City International Airport (SLC). Scheduled as a daylight flight in both directions, this expanded service will also provide a valuable link between the airline’s home in New York and its Salt Lake Support Center (SSC). The SSC is home to nearly 2,500 customer support crewmembers.

Daily Schedule between New York (JFK) and Salt Lake City (SLC)
Beginning September 5, 2018

JFK-SLC Flight #871				SLC-JFK Flight #872
9:29 a.m. – 12:57 p.m.				2:00 p.m. – 8:27 p.m.

JFK-SLC Flight #71				SLC-JFK Flight #72
7:07 p.m. – 10:28 p.m.				11:18 p.m. – 5:44 a.m. (+1)

Long Beach

In addition to adding Steamboat Springs and Bozeman flights in Long Beach, as well as introducing daylight Boston service, JetBlue will also adjust schedules at Long Beach Airport to better meet the needs of the market, offering up to 23 daily flights, which is in line with service levels offered by JetBlue in 2016.

JetBlue will revise flight frequencies on the following Long Beach routes starting September 5, 2018:

Las Vegas’ McCarran International Airport (LAS) – Three times daily service.
Oakland International Airport (OAK) – Twice daily service.
Portland International Airport (PDX) – Once daily service.
Salt Lake City International Airport (SLC) – Up to three times daily service.
San Francisco International Airport (SFO) – Twice daily service.
San José International Airport (SJC) – Twice daily service.
Seattle–Tacoma International Airport (SEA) – Once daily service.

JetBlue will continue to offer its current frequencies of nonstop service between Long Beach and New York-JFK, Fort Lauderdale-HollywoodInternational Airport (FLL), Austin–Bergstrom International Airport (AUS), Reno–Tahoe International Airport (RNO) and Sacramento International Airport (SMF).

Palm Springs Season + More Mint

JetBlue is returning to Palm Springs for its fourth season with an expanded flying schedule, plus the airline’s premium Mint service during the peak December and January travel days. Flights between Palm Springs International Airport (PSP) and New York-JFK will resume this fall on October 10, 2018.

JetBlue service will initially operate four times per week – more than ever before for the early portion of the season – then expand to daily service in mid-December. JetBlue is the only airline to offer daily nonstop service between Palm Springs and the East Coast.

JetBlue’s Mint flights will be offered for the second year in Palm Springs between December 20, 2018 and January 3, 2019. Mint flights will operate on a daylight schedule in both directions during the 14-day holiday peak. JetBlue Mint offers a completely rethought design and a more personal approach to service, featuring exceptional hospitality from specially trained crewmembers, lie-flat seating, tapas-style menu by New York Cityrestaurant Saxon + Parole, fresh espresso and exclusive amenity kits by Hayward and Hopper.

Schedule between New York-JFK (JFK) and Palm Springs (PSP)
beginning October 10, 2018

JFK – PSP Flight #149				PSP – JFK Flight #150
5:42 p.m. – 8:55 p.m.				9:45 p.m. – 5:40 a.m. (+1)

Mint Schedule between New York-JFK (JFK) and Palm Springs (PSP)
December 20, 2018 – January 3, 2019

JFK – PSP Flight #149				PSP – JFK Flight #150
9:25 a.m. – 12:39 p.m.				2:00 p.m. – 10:04 p.m.

Best in Cross-Country Comfort

JetBlue will operate all new flights – with the exception of Palm Springs Mint service – using its Airbus A320 aircraft.

Palm Springs Mint flights will be operated using JetBlue’s new Airbus A321 with Mint aircraft.

Additionally, JetBlue has also grown its industry-leading Mint flights at Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) and San Francisco, and recently introduced the premium flights to new western markets including San Diego, Las Vegas, Palm Springs and Seattle/Tacoma.

Copyright Photo: JetBlue is downsizing its Long Beach operation to allow for these new routes. JetBlue Airways Airbus A320-232 N589JB (msn 2215) (Barcode) LGB (Michael B. Ing). Image: 924211.

JetBlue Airways aircraft slide show:

Routes from LGB:

Inaugural JetBlue ‘Gateway Select’ pilot trainees one step closer to becoming commercial pilots

JetBlue Airways on April 23, 2018 announced the first graduation of candidates from the training portion of its innovative pilot recruiting pathway – Gateway Select, the airline’s competency-based training program for aspiring pilots. The first group of pilots has completed their primary classroom, technical and flight training and will now continue on a path to receiving their Airline Transport Pilot (ATP) certificate by earning their FAA-mandated 1,500 hours of flying time as flight instructors. After instructing for two years, they will begin flying as first officers at JetBlue, as early as 2020.

“Following a rigorous selection process and extensive training, we’re proud to see the first cohort complete the training portion of our Gateway Select program,” said Warren Christie, senior vice president of safety, security and air operations, JetBlue. “This milestone with the first class further proves our competency-based pathway works and provides a new path of entry for those who never saw commercial aviation as a career option.”

JetBlue partners with CAE (NYSE:CAE) to deliver Gateway Select’s training curriculum. This milestone is the first from this innovative program which trains high-quality pilots based on aptitude. The program is being completed in cohort classes. There are currently four classes in various stages of the program ranging from private pilot training through positions as Flight Instructors.

Cohort one started in August 2016 and has completed the training curriculum portion of the program. This first class went through airline and skills-based training at JetBlue’s state-of-the art training campus – JetBlue University in Orlando, and gained flying experience at CAE Phoenix, CAE’s aviation academy in Mesa, AZ. As flight instructors, the candidates will pass the baton providing flight instruction to Cohort three, currently in the finishing stages of their classroom learning.

“Gateway Select was designed to help make pilot careers more accessible to a broader range of candidates,” Christie said. “We remain committed to recruiting a diverse talent pipeline with our seven Gateway Programs by continuing to partner with colleges, technical schools and other organizations that also seek to make the commercial pilot ranks more accessible.”

“CAE is proud to be the training partner of choice of this historic cadet creation program,” said Nick Leontidis, CAE’s Group president, Civil Aviation Training Solutions. “It is part of our mission to grow and train tomorrow’s pilots to the highest standards. Congratulations to the first cohort of JetBlue’s Gateway Select future pilots.”

As JetBlue commemorates this milestone, the airline is currently accepting applications for the next round of candidates slated to start training as early as fall of 2018. Applications and more information on the Gateway Select program will be available at http://pilots.jetblue.com/gateway-select.

Gateway Select Pilot Training Program – The Gateway Select program provides participants with the opportunity to become JetBlue pilots after completing a rigorous multi-year training program which encompasses classroom learning, extensive real-world flying experience and instruction in full-flight simulators. Gateway Select candidates go through a series of assessments based on the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) pilot competencies and JetBlue’s own selection criteria.

JetBlue partners with CAE, leveraging CAE’s experience in delivering competency-based training programs to airlines throughout the world, to deliver Gateway Select’s training curriculum. Gateway Select takes the best from training programs used by the U.S. military and international airlines and applies the safety standards and federal requirements for current pilots. The Pilot trainees came from a diverse set of backgrounds and professional experiences, including a heavy machine operator, a supermarket sales clerk and an accountant.

How It Works

Pilot trainees complete a series of training phases with guidance and mentorship from JetBlue to build the skills and experience required of a pilot for a major airline. The curriculum is also aligned with JetBlue’s unique customer-focused culture.

Trainees attend JetBlue University in Orlando for two weeks to learn the fundamentals of aviation and become acquainted with the company.
Trainees continue to CAE Phoenix, CAE’s aviation academy in Mesa, AZ for 30 weeks to develop core flying skills. Upon completion, candidates receive their private pilot’s license.
Trainees then return to JetBlue University for training on highly complex transport category aircraft, concluding with a JetBlue Line Operational Evaluation (LOE) and the completion of the Airline Transport Pilot – Certification Training Program (ATP-CTP). Training includes the safe and efficient operation of the Embraer 190 or the Airbus 320
Next, trainees return to CAE Phoenix for 12 weeks of additional FAA licensing requirements to receive their Commercial single & multi-engine instrument ratings. Trainees will then attend an instructor course to achieve their CFI (certified flight instructor) and CFII (Certified Flight Instructor – Instrument) qualifications and ratings. Upon completion, trainees then begin working as entry-level salaried instructors for CAE’s aviation academy while accumulating flight hours to achieve the FAA’s 1,500 flight-hour requirement.
Upon meeting the FAA and Gateway Select requirements, pilots become new hires at JetBlue, where they complete the same orientation and six-week instruction that all first officers complete.

JetBlue hires hundreds of new pilots every year, recruiting through its seven JetBlue Pilot Gateway programs^®. These pilot pathways include University Gateway, Transition Gateway, and qualified first officer recruiting. Information about all of JetBlue’s pilot recruitment pathways, including Gateway Select, can be found at http://pilots.jetblue.com.

JetBlue Airways aircraft slide show: