JetBlue cuts routes, exits 5 cities

After efforts to acquire Spirit Airlines earlier this year were shot down, JetBlue Airways is attempting to reduce costs by cutting multiple unprofitable routes within the U.S. and overseas. The company will also completely exit Kansas City, Missouri, and Newburgh, New York, as well as Bogotá, Colombia; Quito, Ecuador; and Lima, Peru.

JetBlue cited multiple reasons for the route cuts: Reducing the chance of delays on other routes, freeing up airplanes to fly more profitable routes, and limited available aircraft.

“These moves will allow us to redeploy our fleet to increase frequencies on well-performing routes from JetBlue’s focus cities while continuing to increase crucial ground time for our aircraft, reducing the chance of delays for our customers,” said Dave Jehn, JetBlue’s vice president of network planning and airline partnerships, in an internal memo. “The changes will also help us during a time when aircraft availability is limited.”

Earlier this year, a federal judge rules that JetBlue’s potential purchase of Spirit Airlines would weaken competition and potentially lead to higher airfares. Prior to the ruling, JetBlue had planned to expand service in key hubs.