JetBlue changed the game on transatlantic connectivity when it launched flights from New York and Boston to London in 2021. The 'hybrid' airline would like to take its narrowbody intercontinental services one step further with flights to Amsterdam Schiphol. However, with the government's plans to restrict the European mega hub's capacity, slots are proving particularly hard to come by - even those vacated by banned Russian flag carrier Aeroflot and the UK's folded Flybe.

JetBlue's Dutch hopes

The New York-based airline wants to operate a daily service from both JFK and Boston Logan using its Airbus A321LR aircraft, the same model it flies to London. However, when JetBlue asked for slots at Amsterdam Schiphol (AMS) back in September for the launch of operations summer of 2023, the request was denied.

Now, the airline is bringing in the big policymaking guns, asking that the Department of Transportation (DOT) make KLM surrender at least two daily Schiphol slots in JetBlue's favor if the Dutch authorities continue to deny the slot allocation request.

In a filing from February 14, sought out by aviation enthusiast and Twitter handle Ishrion Aviation, the carrier says it is a last resort after repeatedly being subjected to “blatant” discrimination from Amsterdam’s slot coordinator Airport Coordination Netherlands (ACNL).

Lower emissions and competition law

Starting in November 2023, yearly movements at AMS will be reduced by up to 60,000. The Dutch government made the decision last year in an effort to slash noise and air pollution across the region. As part of its plea, JetBlue says it would operate the A321LR, which is "quieter and lower-emitting than the vast majority of aircraft serving AMS today."

In its DOT filing, JetBlue also states that the failure of the ACNL to grant the carrier its requested slots is in violation of the US-European Union Open Skies agreement, as well as the International Air Transportation Fair Competitive Practices Act of 1978. Complaints in accordance with the latter mean that the DOT "may take action in response to anti-competitive, discriminatory, predatory or unjustifiable activities by a foreign government or foreign airlines against a US airline."

Photo: Vincenzo Pace | Simple Flying.

Budget carrier precedent

If JetBlue succeeds in wrangling the slots away from KLM, it would not be the first time the airline has had to surrender slots for another airline to operate transatlantic flights out of Schiphol. In 2018, while Norwegian still maintained a long-haul fleet and aspirations, the Dutch flag carrier gave up slots to the budget airline in order to allow more competition on the AMS to New York JFK route, in line with European Union regulations.

What do you think? Should the DOT forcefully make KLM give up AMS slots in the name of fair competition? Leave a comment below and tell us why or why not.

Source: Department of Transportation