JetBlue Ditches Hot Meals for All But First-Class Passengers

JetBlue has announced that its passengers are about to get another perk taken away from them, reporting that hot meals will now only be available to first-class passengers.

After testing new food options this summer on its seasonal flights to Edinburgh and Dublin, JetBlue has taken hot meals off of its economy class menus, the airline informed CBS MoneyWatch.

During the fall, the airline will serve cold dishes from a new “core menu” developed in collaboration with salad and healthy food chain DIG, in place of heated meals on its six daily transatlantic flights.

“The menu, created in partnership with DIG, lives up to the standard we set for high-quality meals,” the airline said in a statement to the outlet. “This change is part of our effort to ensure we can continue to provide a great experience at JetBlue’s competitive fares on these routes.”

These changes have been in effect since September but were only just made public as of Thursday, Oct. 10.

JetBlue’s premium Mint Cabin meal option, which it initially introduced in 2021, has remained unchanged for transatlantic flights. One way that the airline has set itself apart from other airlines is with its excellent selection of food and beverages. For instance, passengers on Mint flights to and from Amsterdam, London, and Paris can choose between hot and cold meals from the menu of the well-known Bar Pasquale, a New York City restaurant with Sicilian influences.

JetBlue Has a Host of New Developments

Over the summer, JetBlue announced that it would raise an additional $1.25 billion through a senior secured Term Loan B due in 2029 and $1.5 billion through a private offering of senior secured notes due in 2031. These securities will be issued by the recently formed JetBlue Loyalty, LP, a wholly owned subsidiary of the airline. The money raised through these offers will be used for general business needs.

To increase reserves and fund ongoing business requirements, the airline has introduced a $2.75 billion bond-and-loan offering guaranteed by its loyalty program.

In its results for the second quarter of 2024, the airline stated that its adjusted net income was $26 million, or $0.08 per share, while its net income was $25 million, or $0.07 per share. Additionally, it earned $2.4 billion in revenue, a drop of 6.9% year-over-year.