JetBlue Launches New York JFK to Edinburgh Route

JetBlue has officially launched its inaugural flight from New York John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) to Edinburgh International Airport (EDI), making it the fourth airline to offer transatlantic services to the Scottish capital. The first flight, B6 73, took off on an Airbus A321neo, marking a significant milestone in connecting these two vibrant cities.

The inaugural flight departed JFK at 20:35 local time and landed in Edinburgh at 07:50 the next morning. This new route offers a six-hour and 16-minute journey across the Atlantic, providing a swift and comfortable travel option between New York and Scotland. The aircraft used for the flight, an Airbus A321neo named ‘A Mint Summer Night's Dream,’ was delivered to JetBlue in June 2021.

JetBlue President Marty St. George highlighted the airline's mission to redefine transatlantic travel by introducing lower fares and enhanced services. This new route is expected to bring the signature JetBlue experience, featuring both Mint premium and Core economy cabins, to passengers traveling to and from Edinburgh.

Scottish officials have welcomed this new connection, emphasizing its potential to strengthen ties between Scotland and the United States. John Lamont, the UK Government Minister for Scotland, underscored the special relationship between the two regions and noted the benefits this route will bring, particularly for promoting key Scottish exports such as whisky, energy, and financial services.

Jim Fairlie, Scotland's Minister for Agriculture and Connectivity, also praised the new flights for enhancing connectivity for business travelers. He mentioned that this direct connection reinforces the case for establishing a US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Pre-clearance facility at Edinburgh Airport, which would streamline the travel experience for passengers heading to the US.

Currently, only Dublin and Shannon airports in Ireland offer CBP Pre-clearance in Europe, but this new route might pave the way for Edinburgh to join this select group. Such a facility would significantly improve the efficiency of travel for passengers flying from Scotland to the United States.

Data from aviation analytics company Cirium indicates that Edinburgh Airport will operate 57 weekly flights to the US in June, serviced by Delta Air Lines, JetBlue, United Airlines, and Virgin Atlantic. This includes 27 flights to the New York area, contributing to a total of 62.6 million weekly one-way available seat kilometers (ASKs). This represents an increase from the previous year's 52 weekly flights and 60.5 million ASKs, highlighting the growing demand for transatlantic travel from Edinburgh.