JetBlue has announced plans to open its first pilot and flight attendant crew base outside of the continental U.S. at Luis Muñoz Marín International Airport (SJU) in San Juan, Puerto Rico, by the end of 2024. The move is expected to bring more than 400 local jobs to the region by 2025, contributing significant economic and community impact.
The announcement coincides with JetBlue’s 22nd anniversary of service to the island and comes after the airline’s recently announced plans to expand service from San Juan into more U.S., Caribbean, and Latin America destinations.
Warren Christie, JetBlue’s chief operating officer, said, “We’re so excited to base hundreds more crewmembers right here in San Juan, where we are proud to be the largest airline with plans to grow even more. The new crew base will support our operation as we grow and benefit the local economy in a place we are proud to call home.”
Puerto Rico Governor Pedro R. Pierluisi praised the announcement, stating, “This great announcement from JetBlue is a testament to the potential of our Island and the growth we have had in the tourism sector over the past three years. This new crew operation base at the Luis Muñoz Marín International Airport, in addition to creating hundreds of jobs, confirms the confidence of the airline in the Puerto Rico market.”
The operational expansion will station up to 120 pilots and up to 325 inflight crewmembers in San Juan, with the base opening in phases. The new base will allow JetBlue to further diversify its crew’s geography to better recover during irregular operations, such as severe weather.
Carlos Mercado Santiago, executive director of the Puerto Rico Tourism Company, called the new San Juan crew base “a milestone in the island’s air access history and evidence of the strength of the long-standing partnership between Puerto Rico and JetBlue.”
The announcement of the crew base comes just weeks after JetBlue announced it would be further expanding its network from San Juan with the addition of six new destinations across the U.S. East Coast, the Caribbean, and Latin America. The airline also plans to introduce its popular Mint experience, featuring lie-flat seats and an elevated dining experience, on a daily flight between San Juan and New York’s John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) in July.
JetBlue has been a committed community partner in Puerto Rico, supporting numerous charitable causes and initiatives over the years. In 2022, the airline hosted its signature “Fly Like a Girl” event in Puerto Rico for the first time, aiming to spark girls’ interest in aviation careers.
As the largest carrier on the island, JetBlue’s new crew base is part of a broader strategy to deepen its ties and commitment to Puerto Rico, ensuring that the airline continues to contribute to its thriving tourism industry and economic stability.
