Let them eat pesto pasta, JetBlue decrees.
This summer, the airline tried out a new menu sans hot food for international coach passengers flying into Dublin and Edinburgh. JetBlue has decided to continue the rollout of said cold meals for economy class passengers, the company tells Fortune.
The major airline has had a couple of choppy years and appears to be tightening its wallet accordingly. JetBlue has shed more than $2 billion since it was last profitable in 2019, per the Associated Press. During the busy 2024 summer travel season, the company reported a $25 million profit, down 82% from a year ago, but not as sharp a loss as analysts had expected.
Still, finding its attempts to spin a profit by merging with Spirit Airlines blocked and a partnership with American Airlines stalled, at the very least—JetBlue has taken to budgeting each ticket item.
This spring, JetBlue announced it would cut down on flights out of Los Angeles and other cities that were deemed “unprofitable” markets. Around the same time, the budget airline also introduced surge pricing on checked bags, telling Fortune that the increase was to cover the costs of fuel and wages, which had gone up “significantly.”
Food is no exception to JetBlue’s slashing of costs. ”This change is part of our effort to ensure we can continue to provide a great experience at JetBlue’s competitive fares on these routes,” the airline said in a statement regarding their menu plan.
This doesn’t mean passengers are only going to be hucked a bag of chips or peanuts. The JetBlue cold menu is created in partnership with fast-casual American chain DIG, and the airline insists it “lives up to the standard we set for high-quality meals.”
All options are “served chilled.” Breakfast choices depending on one's flight include overnight oats, a (presumably cold) crepe, or a frittata, with sides of grapes, pears, apples, yogurt, or carrot cake. Later meals include green bean, cauliflower, and salad options, alongside main options of a pesto pasta salad, mushrooms and lentils, a chicken grain bowl, or ginger garlic tofu.
Even if the airline insists that the coach options are premium, the first-class menu isn’t changing. Rather, the Mint Cabin menu will remain the same since it was unveiled in 2021, notes CBS News. In other words, the wealthy will still dine on hot food.
