JetBlue deferring delivery of 44 Airbus A321neo jets

JetBlue to defer 44 Airbus deliveries to at least 2030.

JetBlue,  New York's hometown airline is differing the delivery of 44 Airbus A321neo aircraft that were scheduled to arrive between 2024 and 2029.  to 2030 and beyond. This will save the airline around $3 billion and is hoped to improve the carrier's balance sheet and improve cash flow.  The airline will be seeking sale and lease-back arrangements on these deliveries nearer the time.  

JetBlue said:  "We simply cannot continue to invest in capital-intensive assets that must be financed upon delivery and that are subsequently unable to produce a return because they have to be parked due to required maintenance and lengthy wait times."  

On average, Jetblue had around 11 aircraft on the ground at any one time due to issues with the geared turbofan engines from Pratt & Whitney. The airline expects to have between 10 and 20 jets on the ground during 2025 because of the same issues. 

Whilst JetBlue is putting a pause on A321 deliveries, it will continue to accept deliveries of A220 jets that it is using to replace Embraer E190 jets which it is phasing out by 2025. 

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