JetBlue Airways (B6, New York JFK) has announced transcontinental services to Amsterdam Schiphol from New York JFK and Boston after a Dutch court last week prevented the Dutch government from further capping flights to reduce noise pollution.
In a statement, JetBlue said the court decision gave the US budget carrier the confidence to enter the market. On April 5, the Court of North Holland ruled the Dutch government had not followed correct European Union regulations and procedures when it cut flights at Schiphol from 500,000 annually to 440,000 for the 2023/2024 season. The International Air Transport Association (IATA), the Air Transport Association of America, and a string of airlines, including JetBlue, contested the decision.
The airline promised to disrupt the market when it launched the new services between New York JFK and Amsterdam Schiphol starting late this summer, with flights between Boston and Amsterdam to follow later this year. "This route is long overdue for some competition," said Chief Executive Officer Robin Hayes. "For too long, the US legacy carriers, backed by their joint ventures with other global airlines that enjoy immunity from antitrust laws, have locked customers in with very expensive fares," he said.
Amsterdam will be JetBlue's third transatlantic city after London Heathrow and London Gatwick in 2021 and its new upcoming service to Paris this June. The service was made possible due to relinquished flybe. (Birmingham, GB) slots at the Dutch gateway coming available.
According to the ch-aviation schedules module, the routes between New York and Boston and Amsterdam are currently served by Delta Air Lines (DL, Atlanta Hartsfield Jackson) and its Dutch partner KLM Royal Dutch Airlines (KL, Amsterdam Schiphol).
