JBLU Expands Global Reach With New Boston Routes to Barcelona and Milan

JetBlue Airways JBLU is strengthening its transatlantic expansion by launching new daily summer seasonal service from Boston to Barcelona and Milan. The airline is doubling down on Boston Logan as a strategic hub and is using these additions to reinforce its position as New England’s leading leisure carrier to Europe. With Italy joining JetBlue’s route map and Barcelona becoming its second Spanish destination, the airline is signaling clear intent to compete head-on in the long-haul leisure market. While the flights to Barcelona are set to commence on April 16, 2026, the ones to Milan will take to the skies from May 11, next year.

The new routes give travelers access to two of Europe’s most in-demand cultural destinations. JetBlue is targeting strong leisure demand by connecting customers to Barcelona’s iconic art and architecture scene and Milan’s fashion and design capital status, with both cities serving as gateways to popular vacation regions such as the Mediterranean and the Alps. By broadening connectivity beyond business-focused cities, the airline is appealing directly to travelers who prioritize tourism and cultural exploration.

JetBlue continues to differentiate itself through its onboard product rather than legacy-style scale. The airline is elevating the long-haul experience with the A321 featuring Mint private suites, curated dining, complimentary meals and drinks in core, fast and free Wi-Fi and expanded inflight entertainment options. By offering a boutique-style experience at competitive fares, JetBlue is actively positioning itself as a better-value alternative on transatlantic routes.

Overall, JetBlue is accelerating its European growth with nine daily nonstop flights planned from Boston to Europe in summer 2026 and a rapidly expanding transatlantic schedule from New York-JFK. By increasing destination variety and enhancing the customer experience, the airline aims to win more leisure travelers and solidify its standing as a disruptive challenger in the U.S.-Europe market.

Share Price Performance

Despite such expansion efforts, share prices of JBLU have declined 33% over the past year, underperforming 13% growth of its Zacks Transportation - Airline industry.  

JetBlue’s Zacks Rank

JBLU currently carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold).

Stocks to Consider

Investors interested in the Zacks Transportation sector may consider Expeditors International of Washington EXPD and SkyWest SKYW.

EXPD currently sports a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy). You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.

EXPD has an expected earnings growth rate of 2.3% for the current year.  The company has an encouraging earnings surprise history. Its earnings outpaced the Zacks Consensus Estimate in each of the trailing four quarters, delivering an average beat of 13.94%.

SKYW currently carries a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy).

SkyWest has an expected earnings growth rate of 33% for the current year. The company has an encouraging earnings surprise history. Its earnings topped the Zacks Consensus Estimate in each of the trailing four quarters, delivering an average beat of 21.2%.

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This article originally published on Zacks Investment Research (zacks.com).

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