JetBlue and Mayor Announce 5,000 New Jobs Coming to New York City

JetBlue will be hiring 5,000 employees in 2022 as it plans to increase its New York City flight schedule this summer – from 200 to 300 flights per day. Michael Appleton/Mayoral Photography Office

March 29, 2022 By Christian Murray

New York’s hometown airline is adding thousands of new jobs.

JetBlue, which is headquartered in Long Island City, announced yesterday that it is recruiting 5,000 additional employees this year in anticipation of a big increase in summer-time demand. The positions will primarily be based at its John F. Kennedy International Airport terminal.

The airline also announced that it has entered into a workforce partnership with the city to help it attract a diverse pool of candidates to fill the positions.

Mayor Eric Adams and officials from JetBlue held an event at JetBlue’s JFK hanger Monday where the company was conducting spot interviews and conditionally hiring staff. The positions on offer include roles in airport operations, ground operations, technical operations, inflight, information technology and other support center roles.

The company currently employs 8,000 crewmembers in New York City and the additional 5,000 jobs is an indication of the growth and resurgence in airline travel. The new jobs will accommodate the expanded flight schedule that JetBlue will soon roll out.

Robin Hayes, the CEO of JetBlue, said that the company will be increasing the number of flights in and out of New York City from 200 to 300 a day beginning this summer.

“We’re thrilled to partner with Mayor Adams to support his administration’s Blueprint for New York City’s Economic Recovery by encouraging travel to New York City,” Hayes said, referring to the mayor’s vision for the city’s economic revival.

“We’ll do that by hiring thousands of new JetBlue crewmembers in 2022, and through our continued engagement in the community to create a strong pipeline for future JetBlue crewmembers and a more resilient workforce for New York City as a whole.”

JetBlue is currently expanding Terminal 5 at JFK to accommodate the extra flights, and plans are in place to develop a $3 billion terminal on the Terminal 6 and 7 sites.

The airline’s commitment to New York City comes about a year after there were fears that the company would move its corporate headquarters from Long Island City to Florida—as its current lease at 27-01 Queens Plaza North ends in July 2023. However, the company announced in August that it would remain at its Long Island City location, after much lobbying by the likes of U.S. Senator Charles Schumer.

Adams said the new jobs indicate that the city is on the rebound.

“New York City is coming back, and we are working with our business community to invest in our people, restart our economic engines, and give New Yorkers pathways to quality jobs,” Adams said.

The partnership between the city and JetBlue also aims to provide all New Yorkers with the opportunity to access such positions.

“As the tourism and travel industry bounces back from COVID-19’s disruption, initiatives like Mayor Adams’ and JetBlue’s workforce partnership program will ensure New Yorkers of all backgrounds share in the industry’s recovery and growth,” said Congressmember Gregory Meeks. “This initiative will open doors for qualified diverse professionals who – although highly skilled – may lack the connections and access often.”