JetBlue is launching flights to London on Airbus A321 long-haul aircraft this summer

In a move that is said to shake up premium transatlantic air travel, the American low-cost airline JetBlue is launching its first flights to London this summer.

The services will be operated by a long-haul version of the catchy Airbus A321 aircraft that will feature 24 individually redesigned “Mint” suites, including two premium “Mint Studio” seats at the front of the airline claims to have “the largest flatbed in any US” -Carrier “.

Both designs were created by London-based Acumen Design Associates and developed in collaboration with another UK studio, Aim Altitude.

The Mint Studio seat will feature 22-inch Thales ‘Avant’ tilt back umbrellas and a guest seat

The Mint Studio seat, which, according to JetBlue in New York, is the epitome of space and privacy, will feature 22-inch Thales Avant tilt-back umbrellas, an additional side table, and a guest seat that can accommodate an additional passenger flight at cruising altitude .

The “regular” Mint suites have tilting 17-inch Thales Avant screens, wireless charging functions, an integrated telephone bar “for multitasking”, “easily accessible seating performance” as well as a laptop and a shoe and handbag stowage.

All premium seats offer direct aisle access, sliding doors for privacy, gate-to-gate entertainment during the flight and seat cushions from posh mattress company Tuft & Needle, which also offer blankets, memory foam pillows and snooze kits with matching eyes offers mask and earplugs.

The “normal” Mint suites shown have tilting 17-inch Thales Avant screens as well as stowage for laptops, shoes and handbags

All premium seats have sliding doors and seat cushions from the classy mattress company Tuft & Needle. A number of mint suites are shown

A mint suite is shown in flatbed mode. The prices for the new transatlantic flights, the London airport they will fly to and from and the exact cabin layout are yet to be announced

JetBlue adds that “residential structures” like flannel covers on the partitions, concrete lampshades, woodgrain table patterns, and soft, vegan leather-covered seats and headrests. “[will] Customers feel at home in the air.

Daniel Clucas, Senior Designer at Acumen Design Associates, said, ‘JetBlue has a longstanding reputation for being brave when it comes to innovation and putting our customers at the heart of our brand, which has been instrumental in making us the Could reinterpret single. Gang Premium Experience. By reclaiming the unused front row space, Mint Studio offers its customers an enhanced flight experience – one that is quickly becoming the gold standard for slim-body business class. ‘

The ‘Mint’ experience debuted in 2014, and JetBlue touted it as a ‘fresh take on premium travel at an’ unpremium ‘price.

“Mint was an idea to make premium US travel less stuffy and affordable, and its performance has exceeded even our most optimistic expectations of going beyond New York, Los Angeles and San Francisco,” said Joanna Geraghty, president and chief operating officer , JetBlue.

‘It is remarkable how Mint’s well thought-out design has caught on with customers when we successfully expanded it to more than 30 tracks. We put our hearts into this redesign of Mint and let ourselves be inspired by our original vision of bringing customers an exceptional experience at a lower price – that’s what JetBlue is all about. ‘

JetBlue says its flights to London will “mess up premium transatlantic air traffic”. Above is an archive image of an A321 at JFK Airport

A 16-seat version of the new Mint experience will be launched on a limited number of flights between New York and Los Angeles in 2021.

The prices for the new transatlantic flights, the London airport they will fly to and from and the exact cabin layout are yet to be announced.

Hayley Berg, an economist at Hopper, said two years ago when JetBlue first unveiled its transatlantic plans: ‘Historically, JetBlue has cut prices by 12 percent when entering an international market, so we expect a similar decline once it does begins operating flights to London. ‘

Norwegian Air recently announced it would end its transatlantic flights, which operated less than a decade ago, and challenge longstanding rivals and seek government aid.

U.S. airlines have received $ 40 billion (£ 29 billion) in wage aid, much of it in the form of non-repayable grants under two separate Covid-19 aid packages and US 25 billion -Dollars (£ 18 billion) low-interest government loans.

The UK government is currently advising against all travel to the US that is not strictly necessary. The US government is advising citizens to reconsider traveling to the UK.