JetBlue has had a rough several years, coming out of the pandemic. The airline has struggled with profitability, and the current management team is trying to right the ship. Along those lines, JetBlue CEO Joanna Geraghty made some interesting comments to employees in recent days, addressing the frustration that so many JetBlue employees feel.<\/p>\n
JetBlue CEO acknowledges low employee morale<\/h2>\n@xJonNYC<\/a> reports on some interesting comments recently made by JetBlue\u2019s CEO, in a conversation with employees. According to this report, Geraghty got surprisingly candid, saying:<\/p>\n\n\u201cWhen you\u2019re not profitable for six years, you don\u2019t feel like you\u2019re winning. We need to get everyone onboard with JetForward, to see it\u2019s working and we\u2019re moving in a more positive direction. It\u2019s not just limited to inflight, it\u2019s also at corporate, where people are like \u2018another year of no profitability and then there will be a seventh to be clear,\u2019 and probably an eighth. So we\u2019re in a very challenging situation.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n..[The morale issue] it’s not just limited to Inflight, it’s also at corporate where people are like ‘another year of no profitability and then there will be a 7th to be clear’ and probably an 8th. So we’re in a very challenging situation.”<\/p>\n
\u2014 JonNYC (@xJonNYC) May 29, 2025<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<\/div>\n<\/figure>\nEven when an airline is in a tough spot, it\u2019s rare to see an airline CEO get that honest about the state of things, both in terms of reflecting on the current reality of employee morale, and in terms of being honest about future prospects.<\/p>\n
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I have faith in JetBlue\u2019s current management team<\/h2>\nKeep in mind that JetBlue CEO Joanna Geraghty<\/a> and JetBlue President Marty St. George<\/a> have been in their current roles for just over a year now, and they\u2019ve certainly had their work cut out for them. <\/p>\nFor one, previous JetBlue CEO Robin Hayes just seemed to be living on a different planet in terms of his priorities. He was more obsessed with sexy Europe flying and taking over Spirit, than on actually running a reliable operation, and trying to improve yields for the core of the carrier\u2019s business. The company just totally lacked a strategy under him.<\/p>\n
So not only have Geraghty and St. George been faced with that reality, but they\u2019ve also dealt with how post-pandemic demand patterns have evolved, as those haven\u2019t been kind to smaller airlines.<\/p>\n
I think JetBlue\u2019s current management team has the right approach, though perhaps my only criticism is that I think they\u2019re moving too slow. For example, I think JetBlue desperately needs to introduce first class ASAP<\/a>, given the markets the airline operates in. The fact that JetBlue hasn\u2019t historically offered first class on non-Mint routes borders on criminal.<\/p>\nThere\u2019s no reason that JetBlue shouldn\u2019t be able to get into Alaska\u2019s league when it comes to margins, and I think JetBlue is slowly learning that lesson. From investing in its loyalty program, to introducing first class, my hope is that JetBlue will be a much healthier airline a few years down the road. The new United partnership<\/a> is an interesting angle as well, and hopefully Star Alliance membership is next.<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/cdn.onemileatatime.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/JetBlue-Mint-A321-73.jpeg\")
I don\u2019t envy the situation that JetBlue is in<\/figcaption><\/figure>\nBottom line<\/h2>\nIn a discussion with employees, JetBlue\u2019s CEO has acknowledged the low morale at the company, and the lack of \u201cwinning.\u201d The airline has been losing money for years, but the management team is trying to improve things. Admittedly it\u2019s a long road, though. I commend Geraghty for her efforts, and hope things keep moving in the right direction.<\/p>\n
What do you make of Geraghty\u2019s comments?<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n
\n\u201cWhen you\u2019re not profitable for six years, you don\u2019t feel like you\u2019re winning. We need to get everyone onboard with JetForward, to see it\u2019s working and we\u2019re moving in a more positive direction. It\u2019s not just limited to inflight, it\u2019s also at corporate, where people are like \u2018another year of no profitability and then there will be a seventh to be clear,\u2019 and probably an eighth. So we\u2019re in a very challenging situation.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n
\n \n\n..[The morale issue] it’s not just limited to Inflight, it’s also at corporate where people are like ‘another year of no profitability and then there will be a 7th to be clear’ and probably an 8th. So we’re in a very challenging situation.”<\/p>\n
\u2014 JonNYC (@xJonNYC) May 29, 2025<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<\/div>\n<\/figure>\n
Even when an airline is in a tough spot, it\u2019s rare to see an airline CEO get that honest about the state of things, both in terms of reflecting on the current reality of employee morale, and in terms of being honest about future prospects.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
I have faith in JetBlue\u2019s current management team<\/h2>\n
Keep in mind that JetBlue CEO Joanna Geraghty<\/a> and JetBlue President Marty St. George<\/a> have been in their current roles for just over a year now, and they\u2019ve certainly had their work cut out for them. <\/p>\n
For one, previous JetBlue CEO Robin Hayes just seemed to be living on a different planet in terms of his priorities. He was more obsessed with sexy Europe flying and taking over Spirit, than on actually running a reliable operation, and trying to improve yields for the core of the carrier\u2019s business. The company just totally lacked a strategy under him.<\/p>\n
So not only have Geraghty and St. George been faced with that reality, but they\u2019ve also dealt with how post-pandemic demand patterns have evolved, as those haven\u2019t been kind to smaller airlines.<\/p>\n
I think JetBlue\u2019s current management team has the right approach, though perhaps my only criticism is that I think they\u2019re moving too slow. For example, I think JetBlue desperately needs to introduce first class ASAP<\/a>, given the markets the airline operates in. The fact that JetBlue hasn\u2019t historically offered first class on non-Mint routes borders on criminal.<\/p>\n
There\u2019s no reason that JetBlue shouldn\u2019t be able to get into Alaska\u2019s league when it comes to margins, and I think JetBlue is slowly learning that lesson. From investing in its loyalty program, to introducing first class, my hope is that JetBlue will be a much healthier airline a few years down the road. The new United partnership<\/a> is an interesting angle as well, and hopefully Star Alliance membership is next.<\/p>\n
I don\u2019t envy the situation that JetBlue is in<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n Bottom line<\/h2>\n
In a discussion with employees, JetBlue\u2019s CEO has acknowledged the low morale at the company, and the lack of \u201cwinning.\u201d The airline has been losing money for years, but the management team is trying to improve things. Admittedly it\u2019s a long road, though. I commend Geraghty for her efforts, and hope things keep moving in the right direction.<\/p>\n
What do you make of Geraghty\u2019s comments?<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n