JetBlue on Monday posted a larger net loss for the third quarter but also higher revenues as consumer demand remains strong.
The carrier said it generated higher yields year-over-year and recaptured more of the increase in jet fuel costs than it expected.
Operating revenues for the quarter were $2.8 billion, up from $2.3 billion in the third quarter of 2025. The carrier’s net loss was $257 million, larger than the $143 million loss it reported in last year’s Q3.
JetBlue officials said they expect further margin expansion in the fourth quarter despite an 85% climb in fuel costs.
“I’m very encouraged by the progress we made in the third quarter,” JetBlue CEO Joanna Geraghty said in a news release. “Resilient demand and strong yields drove revenue well ahead of our initial expectations, allowing us to recapture more of the increase in fuel costs than we initially expected. That momentum has carried into the fourth quarter, and Fort Lauderdale continues to deliver exceptional results even as we significantly grow capacity.”
Earlier this week, The Wall Street Journal reported that a group of JetBlue creditors hired advisors amid concerns about the carrier’s long-term financial health. The creditors are now working with financial advisor PJT Partners and law firm Akin, the newspaper said.
JetBlue’s share price has dropped significantly since August but rebounded somewhat after Monday’s earnings call.
The airline is implementing a turnaround plan, known as JetForward, centered on cutting money-losing routes and introducing new premium products. The strategy is expected to return JetBlue to full-year profitability, which it has not achieved since 2019.
