Milan, Italy. Photo: Shutterstock JetBlue makes history with first-time flights to Italy.
American airline JetBlue marked a significant milestone in its history, with the launch of its first-ever direct route to Italy, between Boston and Milan.
The new direct line, which began operating last week, will connect Logan Airport in Boston to Malpensa Airport in Milan and will operate daily during the summer season.
The move by the American company, which signed an interline agreement for connecting flights to a variety of destinations in America at the beginning of the year, marks another stage in JetBlue's transatlantic expansion strategy, which in recent years has begun to aggressively enter the international flight market, in direct competition with the major airlines in the US and Europe.
With the launch of the new route to Milan, JetBlue now operates nine direct destinations from Europe to Boston this summer, including London Heathrow, Paris, Amsterdam, Madrid, Barcelona, Dublin, and Edinburgh.
JetBlue was founded in 1998 in New York and began operations in 2000, focusing on a "Low Cost with a Premium Experience" model. The company stood out from the start thanks to more spacious seats, free internet, personal screens in every seat, and service that was perceived as high-quality compared to other low-cost carriers in the US.
The company currently operates a fleet of more than 300 aircraft, mostly Airbus A220 and A321neo models, alongside the Embraer. In recent years, JetBlue has invested heavily in its premium product, Mint, a business class designed to compete with traditional airlines on long-haul routes.
The entry into Europe began in 2021 with flights to London, and later expanded to Paris, Amsterdam and other destinations. As mentioned, Milan is the company's first destination in Italy, a move considered particularly significant for an airline that until a few years ago did not operate any long-haul flights.
Company President Marty St. George said at the launch of the route: ""Launching service to Milan marks an exciting milestone for JetBlue and our continued growth in Boston. As our first destination in Italy, Milan brings even more reach to our transatlantic network and gives customers, both in New England and across our network, the chance to experience JetBlue’s unique service across the Atlantic."
According to him, the company continues to build Boston as a strategic hub for international flights, providing efficient connections between the US and Europe at competitive prices.
JetBlue. Photo: ShutterstockThe announcement was also met with enthusiasm in Italy. Aldo Schmid, head of aviation business development at Milan Airports, said JetBlue's choice of Malpensa as its first destination in Italy was a "sign of confidence" in the local market.
He said: "JetBlue’s arrival at Malpensa represents an important sign of confidence in the Milan market and in the potential of tourism and business traffic between Italy and the United States."
The Lombardy regional government also sees the move as an engine for economic and tourism growth. The region's Undersecretary of State for Foreign Affairs, Raffaele Cattaneo, noted that the new line is expected to strengthen business, academic and technological ties between Italy and Massachusetts.
To mark the launch of the line, JetBlue has released special launch prices: starting at $399 one-way in Core class, $649 in EvenMore class, and $2,199 in Mint business class.
Mint Class is considered one of the company's flagship products and includes private suites, seats that open into a full bed, and full premium service, a product that aims to compete directly with companies such as Delta, United, American Airlines, and even the major European airlines.
The new move also underscores the growing importance of Boston to the company, as JetBlue continues to expand its operations in the city and transform it into a significant transatlantic hub, with extensive connectivity to destinations in the U.S., the Caribbean and Europe.