JetBlue Secures London Heathrow Slots

JetBlue Airways has secured access to London Heathrow Airport for its inaugural transatlantic flights. On Friday, Airport Coordination Limited, the slot coordinator for London Heathrow Airport, released an updated report for the 2021 summer schedule, which included the New York-based carrier's allocation of 270 slots for flights to and from London Heathrow Airport.

AeroXplorer | Luke

One hundred eighty slots have been allocated for flights to New York John F. Kennedy International Airport, and the remaining 90 slots are for service to Boston Logan International Airport. Each slot can be used for one takeoff or landing, so a round-trip schedule requires a pair of them. Also, according to the slot filling, JetBlue will operate from Terminal 2 at Heathrow.

AeroXplorer | Carter Petershagen

It remains to be seen if these slots are permanent or just allocated temporarily during the travel demand downturn. Airlines that fly to Heathrow have been granted relief from the "use-it-or-lose-it" policy that usually requires a slot to be used 80% of the time to avoid forfeiting it.

Based on the slot filings, JetBlue expects to start operations to London Heathrow during the week of August 2nd. The airline holds 14 slots for that week, which is enough for daily service. The number increases to 22 slots for the week of September 13th and rises to 28 slots during the week of September 20th through the end of the season on October 30th.