Less than two months before launch, JetBlue is abandoning plans to serve one of its newest destinations. A spokesperson from the airline says this move is in response to “softer-than-expected travel demand.”
The New York-based airline will no longer serve Halifax, Nova Scotia, this summer. This route – from the carrier’s Boston hub – was scheduled to begin on June 26, operating once per day.
“While we were excited to launch summer seasonal service to Halifax, we are pausing our entrance into the market because bookings have not met expectations,” the spokesperson added. This is one of the necessary steps we are taking to manage our business through softer-than-expected travel demand this year and economic uncertainty.”
JetBlue’s service to Halifax was first announced in January.
Demand Slump
JetBlue’s latest network shake-up comes amid suppressed travel demand between the U.S. and Canada, with a recent OAG report stating bookings were down around 70%.
The spokesperson shared that the airline will evaluate this route in the future. Passengers booked on these flights will receive a full refund.
In another statement, a spokesperson from the Halifax International Airport Authority said the news of JetBlue’s change in plans was “disappointing.”
“The current tariff environment and its impact on Canadian travel to the U.S. have created a challenging time for introducing a new U.S. carrier to the market,” the spokesperson added. “As a result, JetBlue will postpone its launch until next summer. We look forward to welcoming them to Halifax in 2026.”
JetBlue joins a growing list of U.S. airlines cutting capacity, citing economic uncertainty. Frontier abruptly cut all of its flights to Vail, Colorado, last weekend.
