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JetBlue's CEO has pushed back on creditor fears and is betting on premium to return to profitability

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In short

JetBlue is preparing to roll out a domestic first-class product called BlueFirst on leisure routes to Florida and the Caribbean, with retrofits planned through 2027. This cabin will complement the existing lie-flat Mint service to help drive earnings toward an adjusted $1 per share by 2028. Meanwhile, the airline relies on $2.2 billion in liquidity and $7 billion in unencumbered assets to navigate financial headwinds as rivals like Frontier also embrace premium seating.

Key points

  • JetBlue is relying on premium cabin expansions rather than workforce reductions to revers…: JetBlue is relying on premium cabin expansions rather than workforce reductions to reverse financial losses and achieve profitability next year.
  • Airline management aims to generate $1 in adjusted earnings per share by 2028 using disti…: Airline management aims to generate $1 in adjusted earnings per share by 2028 using distinct regional and transcontinental premium tiers.
  • Deutsche Bank upgraded JetBlue shares as the wider airline sector benefits from stronger…: Deutsche Bank upgraded JetBlue shares as the wider airline sector benefits from stronger passenger yields and restrained capacity growth.

Sources checked by our analysis pipeline: 1

JetBlue Airways executives have sought to calm investors after shares in the airline hit a record low following a report that bondholders had contracted restructuring advisors. "We have no intention, no plans to file for bankruptcy. We are not engaged with any restructuring company," CEO Joanna Geraghty told CNBC in an interview last month.

Shares have bounced back and are up 40% so far this month as of Tuesday's close.

Geraghty has said the company is focused on its turnaround plan. A major part of that strategy is the airline betting on the premium travel boom to make it profitable again. It will start the next chapter of the effort on Wednesday, when it unveils its new domestic first-class seats at its home hub at John F. Kennedy International Airport.

Tune in at 10:50 a.m. ET as JetBlue CEO Joanna Geraghty joins CNBC TV to discuss the company's target of getting back to profitability. Watch in real time on CNBC+ or the CNBC Pro stream.

JetBlue announced it would offer a domestic first class — BlueFirst — in December 2024…

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