JetBlue Continues to Wind Down Embraer E190 Operations

The airline is slated to retire the aircraft type next year.

A JetBlue Embraer E190 in Boston (Photo: AirlineGeeks | William Derrickson)

[ Planes ]June 16, 2024 7:15 pm ET

By Ryan Ewing

JetBlue is continuing to scale down operations on its Embraer fleet. By May 2025, the airline will no longer operate the aircraft type from its New York-JFK hub.

As first reported by Ishrion Aviation on Twitter/X, JetBlue has no more scheduled E190 flights from JFK by the middle of next year with the last day of operations slated for April 30, 2025. The aircraft will continue regular flights from the carrier’s other hub in Boston.

In 2022, the airline announced plans to accelerate the retirement of its E190 fleet to mid-2025. The aircraft — which have an average age of nearly 15 years — are being phased out in favor of the Airbus A220.

During a recent earnings call, the New York-based airline said that the E190s will be replaced on a one-for-one basis as A220s enter the fleet.

“In addition to better economics, we have already realized $70 million to-date in maintenance savings, and we now expect to realize $100 million in maintenance cost savings through the end of this year, up from the original $75 million goal we previously forecasted,” added JetBlue finance chief Ursula Hurley during the call. “Once we are through this transition period, we expect a more meaningful tailwind to our costs as we return to operating just two fleet types.”

More A220s Than E190s

According to data from AirFleets.net, JetBlue now has more A220s in service than E190s. The airline reached this milestone with the latest A220 delivery in early May.

Currently, the carrier has 28 active A220s and 27 E190s in its fleet along with A320s and A321s.

Per Cirium Diio schedule data, the airline is reducing scheduled E190 flights through 2025. In April of next year, JetBlue only scheduled 1,590 Embraer-operated flights, down from the 4,104 in April 2024.

JetBlue E190 and A220 scheduled flights (Source: Cirium Diio)

At its Orlando base, the airline has a handful of E190 flights scheduled through the end of 2024. Only a handful of cities will see JetBlue E190 service by May 2025, including Washington-DCA, Detroit, Palm Beach, and Buffalo.

JetBlue did not respond to AirlineGeeks’ request for comment.

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Ryan Ewing

Ryan founded AirlineGeeks.com back in February 2013 and has amassed considerable experience in the aviation sector. His work has been featured in several publications and news outlets, including CNN, WJLA, CNET, and Business Insider. During his time in the industry, he's worked in roles pertaining to airport/airline operations while holding a B.S. in Air Transportation Management from Arizona State University along with an MBA. Ryan has experience in several facets of the industry from behind the yoke of a Cessna 172 to interviewing airline industry executives. Ryan works for AirlineGeeks' owner FLYING Media, spearheading coverage in the commercial aviation space.

Follow Ryan

Author

Ryan Ewing

Ryan founded AirlineGeeks.com back in February 2013 and has amassed considerable experience in the aviation sector. His work has been featured in several publications and news outlets, including CNN, WJLA, CNET, and Business Insider. During his time in the industry, he's worked in roles pertaining to airport/airline operations while holding a B.S. in Air Transportation Management from Arizona State University along with an MBA. Ryan has experience in several facets of the industry from behind the yoke of a Cessna 172 to interviewing airline industry executives. Ryan works for AirlineGeeks' owner FLYING Media, spearheading coverage in the commercial aviation space.
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