JetBlue Revealed as Slot Winner at LaGuardia and Reagan National

Posted 06/12/2011

The US Department of Transportation (DOT) has confirmed that JetBlue Airways was successful in securing slots at New York LaGuardia Airport and Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport as part of its recent auction.  It also confirmed that Canada’s WestJet Airlines had secured slots at New York LaGuardia, although the low-cost carrier had already revealed the news (see ‘WestJet Secures LaGuardia Slots’).

DOT and the US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) made the 48 slots available through three separate offerings – two at LaGuardia and one at Reagan National – as a condition for Delta Air Lines and US Airways being able to exchange other slots they hold at the two airports.  JetBlue actually made the largest offer for all three slot sets, but the terms of their sale meant no carrier was permitted to acquire more than one bundle at LaGuardia.

“As a result of the conditions we placed on the transfer between Delta and US Airways, consumers will benefit from new competition and services at both airports from airlines that previously had limited access, or no access at all, to those airports,” said US Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood.

JetBlue already serves both airports and has offered low-fare flights at LaGuardia Airport since 2004.  It currently provides non-stop services to three Florida destinations - Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood, Orlando, and West Palm Beach - with up to ten daily flights.  At Reagan National, where JetBlue began operations in November 2010, the carrier operates up to nine daily flights to its focus cities in Boston, Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood, and Orlando.  It says it will “announce destinations and schedules” for its new services in the coming months.

"Over the years, JetBlue has sought opportunities to grow in both Washington and New York.  By nimbly seizing opportunities like this unique auction, we will be able to significantly expand our low fare presence in the nation's capital and our hometown of New York City," said Scott Laurence, Vice President of Network Planning and Partnerships, JetBlue.  "We're very excited to continue to invest in New York, as well as Washington Reagan National, a market that's quickly proven to be a strong one for JetBlue after just one year of service. We look forward to bringing more low fares and welcoming more customers to these two popular airports."

JetBlue will pay $40 million for eight pairs of daily slots at Reagan National and $32.0 million for eight slot pairs at LaGuardia, while WestJet will pay $17.6 million for eight slot pairs at LaGuardia, according to DOT and the two carriers have now “reached binding agreements with Delta Air Lines”.  A total of seven carriers participated in the bidding for the slots, the others being Allegiant Airlines, Frontier Airlines, Sun Country Airlines, Southwest Airlines and Spirit Airlines.

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