What’s Behind JetBlue’s Investment in a Small Jet Airline?
Photo Credit: JetBlue is investing in JetSuiteX, a public charter operator based in California. JetSuiteX
Skift Take
JetBlue's investment in JetSuiteX is probably not a game-changer. But it is unusual, and it will be interesting to see how the JetBlue/JetSuiteX partnership evolves.
Can JetBlue Airways grow on the West Coast without sending more of its planes to California?
That's a distinct possibility now that JetBlue has bought a piece of one of the nation's more unusual airlines. It's JetSuiteX, a small six-month old carrier that flies to only six West Coast airports, including Burbank Bob Hope, San Jose International and McClellan–Palomar Airport, near San Diego.
JetSuiteX would be unremarkable, except for one major advantage. It is classified as a public charter airline, a favorable distinction because it means passengers on each regional jet do not need to clear security, allowing them to arrive only 30 minutes before departure. And because public charters can have no more than 30 seats, JetSuite's Embrarer E135s have seven fewer seats than the same plane
