Five takeaways from the JetBlue launch on Thursday March 14 that saw daily flights embark from Dublin to New York JFK and Boston.
- Cold food is good. There are no ovens on the JetBlue A321neo flights to Dublin to serve hot food in economy class, so only cold food on these flights. Do not fret, it is great, achice of mains: lentil-quinoa grain bowl with grilled chicken, cold sesame noodles with ginger garlic, tofu, carrots, and daikon and a choice of sides, beet carrot salad, ginger vinaigrette or green beans and garlic sun-dried tomato. Desserts on the flights will be “a sweet, non-frozen treat.”
- You cannot overdose on Irish dancing: there was music and dancers to see off the flight in JFK, more to greet the JetBlue passengers on arrival, music and dancing at Epic where 240 guests celebrated the launch on Thursday night, and then the chill out party for JetBlue personnel was at the Arlington, with (you’ve guessed it) more Irish dancers.
- Dublin is as cool as ever. Third generation Wicklow-woman, Jayne O’Brien, JetBlue customer services manager, was the guest of honour as third generation Westmeath woman Joanna Geraghty had to drop plans to fly at short notice. She says that Dublin was the most requested route for JetBlue before the service was launched. The interest on the European side is exceeding expectations, meaning the expectation of a 70/30 mix in US originating versus Irish originating passengers may have to be revised.
- The passenger cap has to go. JetBlue services will run until September 30, 2024, and plans to extend them to year round will be impacted by the 32m passenger cap at Dublin airport.
- Gate ceremonies are back. Gate ceremonies and the cutting of the cake (which then remains untouched) used to be a big deal in pre-pandemic times. One aviation website even had a cake of the week which Dublin had the honour of winning on several dozen occasions. This was the first since the Egyptair Cairo launch in 2023.
- Enjoy the 2024 marquee launches because 2025 does not look promising. Four airlines in the past three months have had to take their business elsewhere because Dublin airport is constrained. That means JetBlue JFK/Boston and Aer LIngus Denver in May could be the last marquee launches for a time. The politicians seem determined to park the issue of allowing more than 32m passengers at Dublin airport in a process that will take three or four years. It is election year, so passing the buck has taken on a new life. We know where the aircraft stop, but not the buck.
Flights to Dublin will operate daily on JetBlue’s Airbus A321neo with Mint aircraft with 16 redesigned Mint Suite seats, 144 core seats and Airbus’ Enhanced Cabin with XL Bins. The A321neo with Mint features a 20pc increase in fuel efficiency and up to 500 nautical miles in additional range.
