February 2, 2021
Watch: JetBlue Transforms From Budget-Friendly to Swanky with New Onboard Suites and Studios
Matthew Wexler READ TIME: 2 MIN.
Wanderlust just got a makeover thanks to JetBlue's latest reveal: an overhaul of its Mint premium cabin and new "Mint Studios" available on transatlantic flights beginning summer 2021.
"Mint was an idea to make premium travel across the U.S. less stuffy and more affordable, and its performance has exceeded even our most optimistic expectations of going beyond New York, Los Angeles and San Francisco," said Joanna Geraghty, president and chief operating officer, JetBlue. "We put our heart into this redesign of Mint and were inspired by our original vision of offering customers an exceptional experience at a lower fare – which is what JetBlue is all about."
The all-suite Mint cabins will feature custom-designed seat cushions by Tuft & Needle, tilting 17-inch Thales AVANT seatback screens, wireless charging capabilities, as well as Thompson Aero Seating's VantageSOLO seat, a single-aisle seating design with herringbone configuration designed for narrow-body aircraft, which means window-seat passengers will no longer have to climb over other passengers to use the restroom or take a stretch.
Raising the bar even higher, each aircraft will have two Mint Studios in the first row, providing ample room for working or relaxing, and featuring a 22-inch tilting Thales AVANT seatback screen, an extra side table for added productivity, and a guest seat that can accommodate an additional Mint customer during flight at cruising altitude.
JetBlue boasts that the new Mint Studio "will offer the most space in a premium experience from any U.S. airline" as well as the largest lie-flat beds.
The upgrades are a bold move in an industry that's plummeted since the onset of coronavirus. The U.S.'s six biggest airlines lost $34 billion last year.
JetBlue reported a loss of $381 million after reporting a profit in the fourth quarter of 2019. The New York-based airline said its adjusted loss was $1.53 per share, compared with the average forecast loss of $1.72 per share in the Zacks survey, as previously reported. For the year, JetBlue lost $1.36 billion, but stock shares were nearly unchanged.
Matthew Wexler is EDGE's Senior Editor, Features & Branded Content. More of his writing can be found at www.wexlerwrites.com. Follow him on Twitter and Instagram at @wexlerwrites.