JetBlue Celebrates 20 Years in Pittsburgh

Exactly 20 years since the day it first arrived in Pittsburgh, JetBlue Airways and Pittsburgh International Airport celebrated two decades of partnership and service to the region.

Airport and airline officials celebrated the milestone throughout the day Tuesday, starting with a speaking program and cake cutting ceremony at JetBlue’s ticket counter attended by local media.

“We are grateful to the Pittsburgh International Airport team, our business partners and our loyal customers, whose support has made these 20 years possible,” said Tom Lloyd, JetBlue Director of System Operations Strategy and Continuous Improvement. “Pittsburgh is a city known for its innovation, its resilience and its strong sense of community — and we’re proud to have been a part of that community for the past two decades.”

JetBlue’s Growth

JetBlue’s arrival here came at an important time for both the airline and airport.

JetBlue service at PIT began June 30, 2006, initially flying to Boston and New York-JFK with four daily flights. It was one of the first low-cost carriers to begin service at PIT during the drawdown of the US Airways hub, helping increase airline competition, drive down prices and provide more choices for travelers.

“JetBlue has been an outstanding partner in Pittsburgh’s growth story, and we’re proud to celebrate this milestone alongside JetBlue representatives and the travelers who have made these two decades possible,” said Vince Gastgeb, PIT’s Chief Corporate and Government Affairs Officer. “Twenty years is a significant milestone that reflects JetBlue’s long-term commitment to our region and the strength of the Pittsburgh market.”

JetBlue continues to offer its award-winning service from PIT to Boston and New York-JFK, two key business markets in demand with regional corporations. It also expanded with daily service to Fort Lauderdale, a major cruise ship port with many beachfront resorts, while also providing a convenient, one-stop connection for Pittsburghers heading to the Caribbean and Latin America.

In 20 years, JetBlue has flown 4.5 million passengers at PIT, including over 280,000 in 2025 alone — the sixth-most of any carrier at the airport.

“[JetBlue] has strengthened Pittsburgh’s connections to key business and leisure destinations, supporting both economic development and tourism,” said Joe Rotterdam, PIT’s Vice President of Air Service Development. “Strong airline partnerships are essential to Pittsburgh’s future, and we look forward to building on the success of the past 20 years.”

As part of the PIT celebration, officials also presented JetBlue with a proclamation from Allegheny County Executive Sara Innamorato in recognition of the decades-long partnership between PIT and JetBlue.

PIT and JetBlue also hosted a gate event for flight No. 386 to Boston featuring cookies and airport-branded giveaways. Passengers on the Boston flight, along with PIT and JetBlue staff, signed a commemorative anniversary card with written messages congratulating and recognizing JetBlue’s partnership and service to the Pittsburgh region.

Founded in 1999, JetBlue expanded its national footprint fueled by the popularity of its low-cost model, while also providing an upgraded onboard experience, including live TV, free onboard snacks and customer service. These hallmarks, later joined by free in-flight Wi-Fi and its Mint business class cabin, are still core elements of JetBlue’s onboard product today. JetBlue’s product and customer satisfaction have been recognized by numerous industry accolades, including:

• JD Power’s 2026 Best Airline for First/Business Class Customer Satisfaction,
• Best U.S. Economy Cabin by The Points Guy six times, and
• TripAdvisor’s “Best Regional Business Class” and Overall “Passenger Comfort” in North America in 2019.

JetBlue’s reputation for its customer-first philosophy aligns with PIT’s own commitment to deliver an exceptional travel experience, particularly as the airline and airport have each undergone their own transformations in recent years.

PIT opened its new terminal in 2025, and JetBlue upgraded its service from the airport to its newer, more-fuel efficient Airbus A220-300 aircraft and refurbished Airbus A320 aircraft. The A220s and A320s provide between 40-62 percent more capacity and a modernized onboard experience versus the older Embraer E190 fleet that the airline previously served PIT with until September 2025.

Additionally, JetBlue has capitalized on the industry’s premium travel boom, recently adding its first-ever BlueHouse lounges at New York-JFK and Boston. It has also acknowledged plans to introduce domestic-first class seating to most of its fleet beginning later this year.