JetBlue Scraps New Northeast Routes as Trump’s Policies Dampen Travel Demand

JetBlue has scrapped two new routes from Boston, including one to Long Island, as the airline industry grapples with lower travel demand sparked by several of President Donald Trump’s policies.

The airline has decided to cancel its scheduled summertime route connecting Boston Logan International Airport and Long Island MacArthur Airport located in Islip, New York. A representative from JetBlue verified this cancellation with the Daily Voice on Wednesday, April 30.

JetBlue mentioned that the tickets for the route did not sell well.

The excitement around launching our summertime service from Islip to Boston has been dampened as we’ve decided to cancel this new route due to lower-than-hoped-for booking numbers,” stated the spokesperson. “This decision reflects some of the measures we’re implementing amid weaker-than-anticipated travel demands this year coupled with current economic uncertainties. We understand how frustrating this might be for travelers who have already made their reservations, and we genuinely regret any trouble caused.

Passengers with tickets for Boston-Islip flights have the option to get a reimbursement or travel instead to John F. Kennedy International Airport.

JetBlue has temporarily halted its entry into a key city in Canada’s Maritime region. The carrier will not launch its planned summertime flights between Boston and Halifax, located in Nova Scotia.

Passengers on flights between Boston and Halifax will receive refunds or have their travel rescheduled as well.

The spokesperson stated that they will keep assessing the potential for starting services to Halifax next summer.

The flights to Boston were part of a
broader Northeast expansion
JetBlue made an announcement in January, shortly before Trump’s return to the White House. These flights, which remain scheduled, will cover routes such as those from JFK to Connecticut and Rhode Island, as well as a newly planned route connecting Newark, New Jersey, with the Dominican Republic.

JetBlue’s retreat comes as domestic and international travel demand in the US is declining.

CNBC
It has been reported that leaders from airlines such as American, Delta, Southwest, and United have expressed concerns that Americans are not making domestic travel reservations with the enthusiasm initially anticipated. This situation arises even though there was increased optimism at the beginning of the year.

During recent earnings discussions, key figures in the industry highlighted Trump’s frequently shifting tariff policies, market volatility, and broad economic upheaval as contributing factors.

“When people discuss their potential vacations and how they might spend their hard-earned money, nobody truly enjoys dealing with uncertainty,” American Airlines CEO Robert Isom stated during a conference call on Thursday, April 24.

Travelers from abroad have also decreased their visits to the US.

In addition to the financial fluctuations, numerous prospective international visitors have been concerned that Trump’s stringent approach to immigration might jeopardize their travel arrangements.
U.S. Travel Association
mentioned federal statistics indicated that international trips to the U.S. decreased roughly 14% in March when compared to the corresponding month in 2024.

The suspension of flights from Halifax may be driven by the decline in Canadian travelers going south of their border. Data from Statistics Canada indicates that in March, there was a 26% drop compared to last year in overnight road trips to the U.S., while air travel fell by 14%.

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, plane ticket prices fell by 5.3% in March when compared to the same period in 2024 due to decreasing demand.