JetBlue marked a big milestone today with the retirement of the Embraer E190, the 100-seat jet that has been part of the airline’s fleet since 2005. The final revenue flight took off from New York’s JFK and landed in Boston, retracing the very first E190 route nearly twenty years ago.
The sendoff was a special one as customers, crewmembers and invited guests celebrated at both airports. JetBlue’s Chief Operating Officer Warren Christie, who also captained the first-ever E190 flight for the airline, was at the controls again for its farewell. Several original crewmembers joined him, making the day both nostalgic and historic.
The E190 helped JetBlue expand into short-haul markets and became a familiar ride for millions of travelers. I’ve flown on the E190s many times myself and always appreciated the comfort of the 2×2 seating layout since it meant no dreaded middle seat. It was a cozy, reliable plane that played a huge role in JetBlue’s growth in New York and Boston.
Now the airline is looking forward with the Airbus A220. JetBlue recently received its 50th A220 and has 52 in the fleet so far, with 100 on order. With the retirement of the E190, JetBlue’s aircraft lineup is now streamlined to the A220 and A320 families.
The A220 is more than just a replacement. It features 140 seats with wider layouts, extra-large windows, bigger overhead bins and plenty of power outlets at every seat including AC, USB-A and USB-C. Every passenger also gets JetBlue’s fast and free Fly-Fi and personal inflight entertainment. The A220 is also more fuel efficient and offers the range needed for longer routes, including transcontinental flights that the E190 couldn’t handle.
While I’ll miss the E190’s familiar comfort, I’m excited to see JetBlue moving forward with the A220. It represents a step into a more modern era of air travel and promises even better experiences for travelers.
