JetBlue bullish on Atlantic strategy, eyes more gateway connections

By Doyinsola Oladipo

NEW YORK (Reuters) -JetBlue Airways said on Thursday it is bullish on its transatlantic strategy and is looking to connect more passengers with Atlantic gateways as quickly as possible.

The New York-based carrier has been shifting around its network to focus on more profitable routes.

The carrier is expanding its service from Southern Florida and is also turning its attention to transit more premium U.S. travelers to gateway cities like New York and Boston and then onward to Europe.

"That balance of good sun markets in the winter and then European markets in the summer and fall, it's made for a very, very good profit portfolio for us," JetBlue President Marty St. George told a Morgan Stanley conference.

"We're very, very bullish about how the Atlantic has done."

The company said connecting more passengers to gateways like New York and Boston will be helpful for its strategy to return to profitability.

"I would love to get more Atlantic connectivity as quick as I can," he added.

As competitor Southwest Airlines looks to offer long-haul international flights and which aircraft to deploy, JetBlue said it is content with its fleet decision to fly narrow-body aircraft, with about 150 seats, across the Atlantic.

However, the company said it is struggling with airport slot access and securing favorable times, specifically in cities like London, as it looks to get more business travelers on its transatlantic flights.

(Doyinsola Oladipo in New York; Editing by Nia Williams)

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