JetBlue Airways Corporation provides air transportation services. The company operates a fleet of Airbus A321, Airbus A220, Airbus A321neo, Airbus A320 Restyled, Airbus A320, Airbus A321 with Mint, Airbus A321neo with Mint, Airbus A321neoLR with Mint, and Embraer E190 aircraft. It also serves 100 destinations across the United States, the Caribbean and Latin America, Canada, and Europe. The company was incorporated in 1998 and is based in Long Island City, New York.

JetBlue looks cheap on valuation multiples, but that cheapness is largely explained by weak profitability and a heavy debt burden. P/S of 0.21 and P/B of 1.12 are noticeably below the industry median, which usually supports the idea of undervaluation; however, P/E and P/FCF effectively provide no normal signal because of zero values for earnings and free cash flow. TTM revenue remains large and even above the industry median, but the quality of that revenue has not yet translated into sustainable profit: TTM EPS is -0.87, forecast EPS is also negative, and net income remains in the red. Margins are weak: gross margin remains at a high level of around 60%, but operating margin and net profit margin are both zero, indicating a lack of full operating conversion into profit. The balance sheet remains strained: debt/equity of 4.25 is significantly above the industry level, long-term debt of about $7.7 billion remains a heavy burden, and current ratio of 0.70 and quick ratio of 0.64 show limited short-term liquidity. At the same time, cash on hand of $2.27 billion and net worth of $2.01 billion provide the company with some cushion, but this does not offset debt risk and the decline in equity over the years. The trend in equity and liquidity over recent periods has deteriorated, which lowers balance sheet quality and limits the potential for revaluation. A positive aspect is relatively stable revenue and high gross profit, as well as the fact that P/B and P/S already reflect cautious market expectations. However, with negative earnings, weak ROE/ROA/ROI, and high leverage, fair value should remain conservative. For an investor, this is not a story of a strong fundamental turnaround, but rather of possible tactical upside if operating profit improves and debt declines. For now, the fundamentals more likely justify a moderate reduction in the target price relative to the base forecast rather than an increase.

JetBlue Airways Corporation

JBLU’s cheap valuation multiples are offset by weak earnings, high leverage, and low liquidity; fundamentals still support a cautious assessment.

JetBlue Airways Corporation JBLU reported a second-quarter 2026 loss of 66 cents per share, narrower than the Zacks Consensus Estimate of a loss of 70 cents. The result marked a 5.7% earnings surprise, though the loss widened from a year ago.
Operating revenues of $2.7 billion beat the consensus estimate by 0.1% and rose 14.5% year over year. Strong demand and commercial execution lifted revenue per available seat mile, or RASM, 10.9%.
JBLU's Traffic and Pricing Metrics Improve
Passenger revenues increased 14.1% year over year to $2.49 billion, just ahead of our estimate of $2.47 billion. Other revenues climbed 18.6% to $210 million, surpassing our estimate of $188 million. Revenue passengers rose 5.1% and revenue passenger miles advanced 4.1%.
Capacity, measured in available seat miles, increased 3.2%. Load factor (% of seats filled by passengers) improved 0.8 percentage points to 82.7%, matching our estimate, while the average fare rose 8.6% to $237.38. Yield per passenger mile increased 9.6% to 17.53 cents.
JetBlue's Costs Rise on Fuel Pressure
Total operating expenses increased 20.8% year over year to $2.84 billion. Aircraft fuel expense surged 80.7% to $911 million as the average fuel cost per gallon climbed 76.3% to $4.23. Salaries, wages and benefits rose 2.7% to $875 million.
Operating expense per available seat mile increased 17% to 16.53 cents. Excluding fuel and other non-airline expenses, unit costs rose 2.4% to 11.12 cents. JBLU posted an operating loss of $141 million, compared with operating income of $6 million a year ago, while operating margin contracted 5.5 percentage points to negative 5.2%.
JetBlue Airways Price, Consensus and EPS Surprise
JBLU Builds Momentum Across Commercial Initiatives
Premium RASM increased about 13%, while Main Cabin RASM grew 11%. Loyalty revenues rose 13%, supported by record co-brand account engagement, nearly 40% growth in new premium card acquisitions and a 21% increase in loyalty cash remuneration.
JetBlue also highlighted progress in Fort Lauderdale, where RASM rose 11% despite nearly 40% capacity growth. The carrier is restructuring schedules to improve connectivity and expects to operate more than 150 daily departures from the airport this winter.
JetBlue Advances JetForward Execution
JetForward generated $470 million of cumulative incremental EBIT through June 2026. The company remains on track to deliver an annual incremental EBIT benefit of $850-$950 million by year-end 2027.
Operational initiatives also produced gains. On-time arrival performance within 14 minutes improved about 1 point, while Net Promoter Score increased 5 points year over year. JetBlue is using digital tools, predictive analytics and improved routing to raise productivity, fuel efficiency and disruption management.
JBLU Maintains Liquidity Amid Heavy Obligations
Cash and cash equivalents totaled $1.66 billion at June 30, 2026, down from $1.95 billion at Dec. 31, 2025. Investment securities stood at $512 million. Total debt was $8.48 billion, while stockholders’ equity declined to $1.59 billion from $2.12 billion.
Second-quarter capital expenditures, including predelivery deposits, were $234 million. For the first six months of 2026, capital expenditures and predelivery deposits totaled $375 million, compared with $496 million in the prior-year period.
JetBlue Reestablishes 2026 Outlook
For the third quarter of 2026, JBLU expects capacity growth of 3-6% and RASM growth of 12.5-16.5%. CASM, excluding fuel, is projected to increase 2.5-4.5%, while fuel price per gallon is estimated at $3.49. Capital expenditures are forecasted at about $300 million.
For 2026, capacity is expected to rise 1.5-3.5%, with RASM growth of 10-12.5% and CASM ex-fuel rise of 2-4%. Adjusted operating margin is projected between negative 2% and negative 5%. Interest expense is expected to be about $590 million, with capital expenditures of roughly $850 million.
JBLU Sets a 2028 Earnings Target
JetBlue introduced a target of at least $1 in earnings per share for 2028. The goal assumes continued demand strength and an average jet fuel price of $3 per gallon.
The target is supported by expectations for JetForward to deliver about $1.2 billion in annual incremental EBIT in 2028. BlueFirst, the airline’s new domestic first-class product, is expected to begin sales in fall 2026, with most retrofit work scheduled for completion by year-end 2027.
JBLU currently carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold). You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.
Q2 Performance of Other Airline Companies
Delta Air Lines DAL reported second-quarter 2026 earnings (excluding 88 cents from non-recurring items) of $1.56 per share, beating the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $1.51. Earnings declined in double digits (% wise) from a year ago as sharply higher fuel costs pressured profitability.
Revenues rose on a year-over-year basis to $17.67 billion but missed the consensus estimate of $17.76 billion. Broad demand strength lifted adjusted total revenue per available seat mile (“TRASM”) by 12.4%, while premium and diversified revenue streams continued to expand.
United Airlines UAL reported second-quarter 2026 adjusted earnings of $1.99 per share, down 48.6% year over year but above the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $1.92 by 3.7%.
Operating revenues rose 16% to $17.67 billion and were essentially in line with the $17.68-billion consensus mark. A 12.1% increase in TRASM and broad-based gains across premium, loyalty and cargo revenues supported the top line despite sharply higher fuel costs.
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JBLU Q2 Earnings Beat on Strong RASM Growth, Revenues Rise

(RTTNews) - JetBlue Airways (JBLU) reported a second quarter net loss of $247 million, compared to a net loss of $74 million, in the same period of 2025. Loss per common share was $0.66 compared to a loss of $0.21. Net loss excluding special items and gain on investments was $247 million compared to a loss of $58 million. Excluding special items and gain on investments, loss per share was $0.66 compared to a loss of $0.16.
Total operating revenues increased 14.5% to $2.697 billion in the three-month period, driven by a 14.1% rise in passenger revenues to $2.487 billion and an 18.6% increase in other revenues. The company noted that its RASM increased 10.9% and CASM ex-fuel increased 2.4% from a year ago, both ahead of revised guidance midpoints despite elevated fuel prices and ATC constraints.
JetBlue Airways Reestablished full year guidance with second half RASM exceeding CASM-ex by double digits. Fiscal 2026 RASM is projected to rise 10.0% - 12.5%.
The company said JetForward remains on track to deliver at least $310 million of incremental EBIT in 2026 and $850 - $950 million of annual incremental EBIT benefit by year-end 2027. The company introduced a long-term financial target of at least $1.00 in earnings per share for 2028.
In pre-market trading on NasdaqGS, JetBlue shares are up 0.78 percent to $5.47.
For more earnings news, earnings calendar, and earnings for stocks, visit rttnews.com.
The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.

JetBlue Airways Posts Wider Loss In Q2; Projects At Least $1.00 EPS By 2028

Alaska Air Group (ALK) came out with a quarterly loss of $0.92 per share versus the Zacks Consensus Estimate of a loss of $0.97. This compares to earnings of $1.78 per share a year ago. These figures are adjusted for non-recurring items.
This quarterly report represents an earnings surprise of +5.16%. A quarter ago, it was expected that this airline would post a loss of $1.61 per share when it actually produced a loss of $1.68, delivering a surprise of -4.35%.
Over the last four quarters, the company has surpassed consensus EPS estimates two times.
Alaska Air, which belongs to the Zacks Transportation - Airline industry, posted revenues of $4.07 billion for the quarter ended June 2026, missing the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 0.73%. This compares to year-ago revenues of $3.7 billion. The company has topped consensus revenue estimates two times over the last four quarters.
The sustainability of the stock's immediate price movement based on the recently-released numbers and future earnings expectations will mostly depend on management's commentary on the earnings call.
Alaska Air shares have lost about 8.5% since the beginning of the year versus the S&P 500's gain of 8.7%.
What's Next for Alaska Air?
While Alaska Air has underperformed the market so far this year, the question that comes to investors' minds is: what's next for the stock?
There are no easy answers to this key question, but one reliable measure that can help investors address this is the company's earnings outlook. Not only does this include current consensus earnings expectations for the coming quarter(s), but also how these expectations have changed lately.
Empirical research shows a strong correlation between near-term stock movements and trends in earnings estimate revisions. Investors can track such revisions by themselves or rely on a tried-and-tested rating tool like the Zacks Rank, which has an impressive track record of harnessing the power of earnings estimate revisions.
Ahead of this earnings release, the estimate revisions trend for Alaska Air was mixed. While the magnitude and direction of estimate revisions could change following the company's just-released earnings report, the current status translates into a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold) for the stock. So, the shares are expected to perform in line with the market in the near future. You can see the complete list of today's Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.
It will be interesting to see how estimates for the coming quarters and the current fiscal year change in the days ahead. The current consensus EPS estimate is $1.41 on $4.31 billion in revenues for the coming quarter and -$0.06 on $15.85 billion in revenues for the current fiscal year.
Investors should be mindful of the fact that the outlook for the industry can have a material impact on the performance of the stock as well. In terms of the Zacks Industry Rank, Transportation - Airline is currently in the top 31% of the 250 plus Zacks industries. Our research shows that the top 50% of the Zacks-ranked industries outperform the bottom 50% by a factor of more than 2 to 1.
One other stock from the same industry, JetBlue Airways (JBLU), is yet to report results for the quarter ended June 2026. The results are expected to be released on July 28.
This airline is expected to post quarterly loss of $0.70 per share in its upcoming report, which represents a year-over-year change of -337.5%. The consensus EPS estimate for the quarter has been revised 26.4% higher over the last 30 days to the current level.
JetBlue Airways' revenues are expected to be $2.7 billion, up 14.4% from the year-ago quarter.
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The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.

Alaska Air Group (ALK) Reports Q2 Loss, Lags Revenue Estimates

(RTTNews) - JetBlue Airways (JBLU) said it has secured Spirit Airlines' operating slots at New York's LaGuardia Airport, gaining the rights for 12 daily round-trip flights through Spirit's bankruptcy process. The deal still needs final court and regulatory approval.
JetBlue said it's reviewing how to use the slots as part of its broader network strategy, and that any service expansion tied to the acquisition would likely start in 2027.
The airline also plans to return to LaGuardia's Marine Air Terminal (Terminal A) the Art Deco building that served as Spirit's base until the carrier stopped operating in May. JetBlue previously operated from the terminal before moving to a newer facility, and said Terminal A remains a favorite with travelers.
The move reshuffles some of LaGuardia's most valuable airport assets, where strict slot controls make it difficult for airlines to add flights.
It also comes as JetBlue continues expanding at Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport while reducing its staffing footprint at LaGuardia and Newark Liberty International Airport. Spirit's remaining airport assets are still being sold through U.S. Bankruptcy Court following the airline's collapse.
The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.

JetBlue Wins Spirit's LaGuardia Slots, Plans Return To Marine Air Terminal

JetBlue Airways Corporation’s JBLU partnership with ClarityPay marks another step in the carrier’s efforts to enhance the customer booking experience by offering greater payment flexibility. By allowing eligible customers to finance travel purchases directly on JBLU’s website and mobile app, the airline lowers the upfront financial burden of booking trips, which could encourage demand, particularly for higher-value itineraries and discretionary leisure travel.
The introductory 0% APR offer for financing terms of up to 12 months is likely to attract price-conscious travelers and may help JetBlue drive more direct bookings. Direct bookings are strategically important because they reduce reliance on third-party travel agencies, lower distribution costs and enable the airline to maintain stronger customer relationships while retaining valuable booking data.
The partnership also complements JBLU’s loyalty strategy. Customers using ClarityPay will continue to earn TrueBlue points on eligible purchases, and the company plans to introduce deeper loyalty integrations later this year. These enhancements could strengthen customer engagement, encourage repeat travel and improve the overall value proposition of the TrueBlue program.
Overall, the initiative aligns with JetBlue’s broader focus on personalization and digital innovation. By combining flexible financing with loyalty rewards, the airline is expanding the range of payment choices available to customers while creating opportunities to boost direct sales, customer retention and long-term revenue growth.
JetBlue’s Share Price Performance
JBLU’s shares have gained 24.3% over the past year compared with the Transportation - Airline industry’s 18% growth.
JBLU’s Zacks Rank
JBLU currently carries a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy).
Other Stocks to Consider
Investors interested in the Zacks Transportation sector may consider Teekay Tankers Ltd TNK and Expeditors International of Washington, Inc. EXPD as well.
Teekay Tankers currently sports a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy). You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.
TNK has an expected earnings growth rate of 98% for the current year. The company has an encouraging earnings surprise history. Its earnings topped the Zacks Consensus Estimate in each of the trailing four quarters, delivering an average beat of 10.2%.
Expeditors currently carries a Zacks Rank #2.
EXPD has an expected earnings growth rate of 12.8% for 2026. The company has an encouraging earnings surprise history. Its earnings outpaced the Zacks Consensus Estimate in each of the trailing four quarters, delivering an average beat of 13.96%.
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JetBlue Boosts Customer Convenience With ClarityPay Financing

(RTTNews) - Wednesday, JetBlue Airways Corporation (JBLU) and ClarityPay, a provider of tailored point-of-sale credit solutions, announced the launch of a first-of-its-kind pay later program that unites embedded financing with an airline's loyalty and personalization strategies.
The program offers an introductory 0% APR on terms up to 12 months and TrueBlue points earning available at launch, plus incremental points opportunities on bookings with ClarityPay coming later this year.
The company stated that the program aims to increase value to its customers, grow sales, and expand its loyalty ecosystem.
In the pre-market hours, JBLU is trading at $5.35, up 0.36 percent on the Nasdaq.
The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.

JetBlue Airways, ClarityPay Launch First-Of-Its-Kind Pay Later Program With TrueBlue Points Earned

JetBlue Airways JBLU announced the largest schedule expansion in its history at Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport (“FLL”), underscoring the carrier’s long-term commitment to South Florida. The airline has launched eight new nonstop routes and plans to add six more in the coming months, expanding its Fort Lauderdale network to more than 55 nonstop destinations. With more than 125 daily departures currently and approximately 150 expected during the winter season, JBLU is positioning FLL as one of its most important growth markets.
The expansion strengthens JetBlue’s competitive position by improving connectivity across the United States, Latin America and the Caribbean. Management noted that daily departures from Fort Lauderdale are up more than 75% from the same period last year, reflecting strong momentum. The new domestic and international destinations should help attract both local travelers and connecting passengers while reinforcing JetBlue’s status as the leading airline at FLL by flights and nonstop destinations.
A key highlight of the announcement is the continued expansion of JetBlue’s premium Mint service. The airline plans to introduce daily Mint flights between Fort Lauderdale and San Diego beginning Nov. 19, along with additional Mint service to Los Angeles and San Francisco this winter. These additions expand JBLU’s premium offerings in South Florida while providing a competitive differentiator, including the only lie-flat service currently available between Fort Lauderdale and San Diego.
Beyond network growth, JetBlue also emphasized its investment in the local community through the JetBlue Foundation, which awarded $130,000 in grants to several South Florida organizations supporting STEM education and youth development. Overall, the announcement reflects a balanced strategy of expanding capacity, enhancing premium travel options and strengthening community ties. If travel demand remains healthy, the Fort Lauderdale expansion could support JetBlue’s revenue growth and further solidify FLL’s position as a key gateway within the airline’s network.
JetBlue’s Share Price Performance
JBLU’s shares have gained 34.9% over the past year compared with the Transportation - Airline industry’s 25.3% growth.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
JBLU’s Zacks Rank
JBLU currently carries a Zacks Rank of #3 (Hold).
Stocks to Consider
Investors interested in the Zacks Transportation sector may consider Expeditors International of Washington, Inc. EXPD and Teekay Tankers Ltd TNK.
EXPD currently carries a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy). You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.
Expeditors has an expected earnings growth rate of 12.3% for 2026. The company has an encouraging earnings surprise history. Its earnings outpaced the Zacks Consensus Estimate in each of the trailing four quarters, delivering an average beat of 13.96%.
Teekay Tankers Ltd currently sports a Zacks Rank #1.
TNK has an expected earnings growth rate of 98% for the current year. The company has an encouraging earnings surprise history. Its earnings topped the Zacks Consensus Estimate in each of the trailing four quarters, delivering an average beat of 10.2%.
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JetBlue Bets Big on Fort Lauderdale With Historic Schedule Expansion

Key Points
Delta Air Lines maintains a competitive advantage through its lucrative American Express partnership and high-margin premium travel segments.
JetBlue Airways is currently focused on its "JetForward" turnaround strategy and a new interline alliance with United Airlines to improve efficiency.
Stability versus transformation: which carrier offers the best path forward for your portfolio?
Investing in the airline industry often means choosing between established giants and nimbler carriers. You must decide if the premium stability of Delta Air Lines (NYSE:DAL) or the recovery potential of JetBlue Airways (NASDAQ:JBLU) fits your strategy.
Airlines are navigating a landscape defined by shifting travel demand and high operational costs. Choosing between Delta Air Lines and JetBlue Airways requires weighing a dominant global leader against a smaller player attempting a major financial turnaround. Both carriers face distinct hurdles in today's economy.
The case for Delta Air Lines
Delta Air Lines operates a global network serving nearly 200 million annual travelers and nearly 4,000 daily departures. Its business strategy relies on premium service and strategic international alliances, including partnerships with Air France-KLM and Korean Air. American Express (NYSE:AXP) is a critical commercial partner, providing nearly $8.2 billion in annual remuneration as of 2025. Since this accounts for over 10% of revenue, customer concentration like this adds a layer of risk to the business.
In FY 2025, revenue reached nearly $63.4 billion, representing growth of approximately 2.9% over the prior year. Net income for the period was just over $5 billion, which resulted in a net margin of roughly 7.9%. This reflects a steady performance compared to previous fiscal years as the company continues to capture demand for international and business travel.
As of the December 2025 balance sheet, the debt-to-equity ratio is approximately 1.0x, which compares total debt to the value of shareholder equity. Free cash flow, which is cash from operations minus capital spending, was nearly $3.8 billion for the year. This is a common indicator of financial health among industrial stocks.
The case for JetBlue Airways
JetBlue Airways operates a low-fare model centered on key focus cities like New York, Boston, and Fort Lauderdale. The company recently launched the "Blue Sky" collaboration with United Airlines (NASDAQ:UAL), which facilitates interline connectivity and reciprocity of loyalty points for passengers. Success largely hinges on the "JetForward" plan, a strategic effort to optimize the route network and manage rising infrastructure costs across its 100 destinations.
During FY 2025, revenue reached nearly $9.1 billion, a decline of roughly 2.3% from the previous year. This performance resulted in a net loss of $602 million for the period, as the company struggled with higher expenses and fluctuating demand in its primary markets.
As of its December 2025 balance sheet, the debt-to-equity ratio was roughly 4.8x, indicating that total debt is nearly five times larger than shareholder equity. Free cash flow for the fiscal year was negative at close to $845 million, reflecting the ongoing capital demands of maintaining a modern aircraft fleet and executing a turnaround.
Risk profile comparison
Delta Air Lines faces significant cybersecurity risks, as demonstrated by the 2024 global outage involving CrowdStrike Holdings (NASDAQ:CRWD) which disrupted global travel. Regulatory shifts regarding the Groupo Aeroméxico (NYSE:AERO) joint venture could force a wind-down of certain routes if antitrust immunity is eventually lost. Additionally, volatile fuel costs, managed through its Monroe Energy refinery, and potential labor strikes among its 20% unionized workforce pose ongoing operational hurdles.
JetBlue Airways faces intense legal pressure from a $100 million lawsuit involving American Airlines (NYSE:AA). Financial liquidity is strained by close to $7.7 billion in net debt and potential collateral demands from credit card processors. Operational limits in the Northeast airspace and ongoing engine issues from RTX Corporation (NYSE:RTX) further complicate the execution of the company's strategic recovery plan.
Valuation comparison
Delta Air Lines appears more expensive on a Forward P/E basis but maintains positive earnings, whereas JetBlue Airways offers a lower P/S ratio despite its current financial losses.
Forward P/E
17.1x
56x
31.3x
P/S ratio
0.9x
0.2x
n/a
Sector benchmark uses the SPDR XLI sector ETF.
Valuation metrics sourced from Financial Modeling Prep (FMP) and may differ from other data providers.
Which stock would I buy in 2026?
For a long time, JetBlue was one of the industry’s leading innovators and best-performing airline stocks. Those days are gone, though, as the business has struggled with scale against larger competitors. An attempt to merge with Spirit Airlines was quashed by regulators, meaning growth will have to come organically for the airline, for now. The recent spike in fuel costs due to the Iran war hurt the business in the still-to-be-reported seconds quarter of fiscal 2026 because more than 90% of its seats were already booked before the spike in prices, meaning it could not pass along the higher costs.
Part of its JetForward strategy is to become more like Delta by offering premium experiences that customers will pay for. For JetBlue, that includes the planned introduction of domestic first class this year and the continued rollout of BlueHouse, a new lounge concept. The result will be higher revenue in 2026, abotu $10.1 billion, but a larger net loss as it works through costs and growth plans.
On the other hand, Delta has emerged as the largest and most successful of the U.S. airlines, mainly by focusing on customer experience rather than slashing fares to gain market share, which has largely been the strategy of other U.S. carriers. There are no fewer than three classes of service on any Delta plane, and many have four, allowing it to tier customers with cheap fares and premium seating. The business focuses exceptionally well on the customer experience to drive loyalty, which in turn brings better margins. That starts with the Delta staff, who get high marks for in-flight service, and also for services like in-flight WiFi, which allows passengers to connect their mobile devices to the seat-back screens on many planes. Expanding and improving WiFi is a priority for the company this year, including improved connectivity from provider ViaSat Inc (NASDAQ:VSAT). All of that should boost 2026 revenue 11% to $70.3 billion and net income of $2.9 billion, though that is a decline from 2025.
The U.S. airline business is a cutthroat one, and Delta Air Lines seems to have cracked the code. Don’t count out JetBlue turning itself around, but Delta is the better pick in 2026.
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The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.

Delta Air Lines vs. JetBlue: Which Airline Stock Is a Better Buy in 2026?

JetBlue Airways’ JBLU expansion of its premium Mint service from Fort Lauderdale highlights the airline’s continued focus on strengthening its presence in one of its most important growth markets. By introducing daily Mint flights to San Diego and increasing premium capacity on routes to Los Angeles and San Francisco, the company is targeting strong demand for transcontinental travel. It is also differentiating itself through a higher-end customer experience. The move further reinforces Fort Lauderdale’s role as a strategic hub for JBLU.
The addition of San Diego is particularly notable, as JetBlue will become the only airline offering a business-class product on the Fort Lauderdale–San Diego route. This unique positioning could help the carrier attract higher-yield business and leisure travelers seeking premium comfort, supporting revenue growth and improving route profitability. The expansion also demonstrates confidence in sustained travel demand between South Florida and the West Coast.
From a competitive standpoint, increasing Mint frequencies on key routes to Los Angeles and San Francisco allows JBLU to better compete with larger network carriers that dominate premium transcontinental markets. Mint has been a key differentiator for the airline, offering lie-flat seats and premium amenities while maintaining a value-oriented pricing strategy. Expanding this product on high-demand routes should strengthen customer loyalty and enhance JetBlue’s premium brand appeal.
Overall, the announcement reflects JBLU’s strategy of driving growth through targeted network expansion and premium product offerings rather than simply adding capacity. The expected increase to roughly 150 daily departures from Fort Lauderdale this winter underscores management’s commitment to the market and positions the airline to capture both leisure and business travel demand while supporting long-term revenue and margin improvement.
JBLU’s Share Price Performance
JBLU’s shares have gained 12.8% in the year-to-date-period compared with the Transportation - Airline industry’s 2.9% growth.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
JBLU’s Zacks Rank
JBLU currently has a Zacks Rank #4 (Sell).
Stocks to Consider
Investors interested in the Zacks Transportation sector may consider Expeditors International of Washington, Inc. EXPD and Teekay Tankers Ltd TNK.
EXPD currently sports a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy). You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.
Expeditors has an expected earnings growth rate of 11.9% for 2026. The company has an encouraging earnings surprise history. Its earnings outpaced the Zacks Consensus Estimate in each of the trailing four quarters, delivering an average beat of 13.96%.
Teekay Tankers Ltd currently sports a Zacks Rank #1.
TNK has an expected earnings growth rate of 98% for the current year. The company has an encouraging earnings surprise history. Its earnings topped the Zacks Consensus Estimate in each of the trailing four quarters, delivering an average beat of 10.2%.
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The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.

JBLU Enhances Fort Lauderdale Network With Expanded Mint Service

In recent trading, shares of JetBlue Airways Corp (Symbol: JBLU) have crossed above the average analyst 12-month target price of $4.33, changing hands for $4.38/share. When a stock reaches the target an analyst has set, the analyst logically has two ways to react: downgrade on valuation, or, re-adjust their target price to a higher level. Analyst reaction may also depend on the fundamental business developments that may be responsible for driving the stock price higher — if things are looking up for the company, perhaps it is time for that target price to be raised.
There are 12 different analyst targets within the Zacks coverage universe contributing to that average for JetBlue Airways Corp, but the average is just that — a mathematical average. There are analysts with lower targets than the average, including one looking for a price of $3.00. And then on the other side of the spectrum one analyst has a target as high as $8.00. The standard deviation is $1.497.
But the whole reason to look at the average JBLU price target in the first place is to tap into a "wisdom of crowds" effort, putting together the contributions of all the individual minds who contributed to the ultimate number, as opposed to what just one particular expert believes. And so with JBLU crossing above that average target price of $4.33/share, investors in JBLU have been given a good signal to spend fresh time assessing the company and deciding for themselves: is $4.33 just one stop on the way to an even higher target, or has the valuation gotten stretched to the point where it is time to think about taking some chips off the table? Below is a table showing the current thinking of the analysts that cover JetBlue Airways Corp:
»
Current
1 Month Ago
2 Month Ago
3 Month Ago
Strong buy ratings:
0
0
0
0
Buy ratings:
0
0
1
0
Hold ratings:
9
9
8
9
Sell ratings:
1
1
1
1
Strong sell ratings:
4
4
4
4
Average rating:
3.64
3.64
3.57
3.64
The average rating presented in the last row of the above table above is from 1 to 5 where 1 is Strong Buy and 5 is Strong Sell. This article used data provided by Zacks Investment Research via Quandl.com. Get the latest Zacks research report on JBLU — FREE.
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The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.