JetBlue Announces Premium Seating on Transcontinental Flights

A JetBlue aircraft in Seattle

JetBlue Airways said it will add premium seats on transcontinental flights between New York and both San Francisco and Los Angeles, beginning in 2014.  The announcement was made by Robin Hayes, the airline’s chief commercial officer, at an investor conference in New York earlier today.

In recent months, American, Delta, and United have all announced plans to enhance their premium cabin offerings.  All will offer fully lie-flat seats in both first and business class and Delta and United have already started to fly planes with the new seating.

JetBlue, Mr. Hayes said, needs to add premium seating “to be truly competitive.”

He did not, however, say how many premium seats will be available on each flight, whether they will be lie-flat, or whether they will be in a separate cabin.

JetBlue will first offer the new seats on non-stop flights between New York’s John F. Kennedy, and Los Angeles International Airport and later on flights to San Francisco International Airport.  With this move, Southwest Airlines becomes the only major U.S. airline with coach-only service.

(Photo: Accura Media Group)