JetBlue goes on the offensive in Long Beach

For years, JetBlue Airways has mainly ignored Southern California's Long Beach Airport, home to its smallest focus-city operation. JetBlue has eagerly promoted the idea of opening a customs and immigration facility there, so it can start serving international routes. But with international flights off-limits for now, JetBlue has been happy to mark time in Long Beach, operating as few as 22 daily round-trips at the airport. However, since losing out to Alaska Air in the competition to acquire Virgin America earlier this year, JetBlue has turned its focus to organic expansion on the West Coast. Furthermore, JetBlue has had to fend off new competition from Southwest in Long Beach. As a result, it is now adding flights at Long Beach Airport. The rationale for Alaska Air's deal to acquire Virgin America is that it will become a major player in the massive California air-travel market. Indeed, when the acquisition closes, Alaska expects to be the largest airline on the West Coast, slightly edging out Southwest and overtaking all three legacy carriers. This will leave JetBlue as a distant sixth on the West Coast. To avoid becoming an afterthought, JetBlue has embarked on a huge expansion of its Mint premium transcontinental service. By the end of 2017, JetBlue will roughly double its Mint fleet to 31 aircraft, which will operate more than 70 daily flights.<br/>