In a historic move that promises to strengthen ties between Scotland and the United States, JetBlue has launched its first-ever direct flights between Edinburgh and New York.
Key Takeways:
- JetBlue launches first-ever direct flights between Edinburgh and New York, operating daily from May 22 until September 30.
- 4 airlines operate transatlantic flights from/to Edinburgh: Delta Air Lines, United Airlines, Virgin Atlantic, and now JetBlue.
- New route expected to boost tourism and business links, strengthening Scotland-US relationship.
- The transatlantic flights will take between 7 and 8 hours.
The inaugural flight, which took off from New York’s John F. Kennedy International Airport on May 22, landed at Edinburgh Airport the following day, marking a significant milestone for both the airline and the Scottish capital.
| Route | Flight Number | Departure Time | Arrival Time |
| JFK-EDI | Flight #73 | 9:20 p.m. | 9:30 a.m. (+1 day) |
| EDI-JFK | Flight #72 | 12:20 p.m. | 02:58 p.m. |
The new route, which will operate daily throughout the summer until September 30, is expected to boost tourism and business links between the two countries.
According to Gordon Dewar, chief executive of Edinburgh Airport, the addition of this route “further enhances connectivity to North America out of Scotland’s busiest airport after a strong 2023 where transatlantic capacity was up 51 per cent on 2019 levels.”
The flights, operated on an Airbus A321neo, will depart Edinburgh daily at 12:30 a.m., arriving at New York JFK at 3:15 p.m.
The return flights will leave New York JFK at 10:15 p.m., landing in Edinburgh at 10:25 a.m. the following day.
The inaugural flight, which took off on May 22, had a total flight time of six hours and 16 minutes, according to data from Flightradar24.
Marty St. George, president of JetBlue, expressed his enthusiasm for the new connection, stating, “JetBlue has redefined transatlantic travel by introducing low fares and great service in markets dominated by high-fare legacy carriers. We look forward to connecting Scotland and the Northeast this summer with our award-winning Mint and core service that will bring this signature JetBlue experience to Edinburgh.”
Scottish officials have also welcomed the new route, emphasizing the special relationship between Scotland and the United States.
John Lamont, UK Government Minister for Scotland, said, “Our relationship with the US is a special one. We welcome hundreds of thousands of visitors to Scotland and the wider UK from North America every year and it’s also our top export market. This new direct JetBlue route from Edinburgh to New York City will really help strengthen links between our two great countries.”
Jim Fairlie, Minister for Connectivity, added that the new flight service “demonstrates the confidence they have in the Scottish market” and “strengthens Edinburgh Airport’s case for establishing a U.S. pre-clearance border facility to help make travel more seamless and provide added benefits for Scottish businesses and visitors.”
With 57 weekly flights scheduled between Edinburgh and the United States in June, including 27 flights to the New York area, the new JetBlue route is set to contribute significantly to the 62.6 million weekly one-way available seat kilometers (ASKs) between the two countries.
This represents a notable increase from the 60.5 million ASKs recorded in June of the previous year, which saw 52 weekly flights across the Atlantic Ocean.
As JetBlue establishes itself in the Scottish market, the new direct flights between Edinburgh and New York are expected to not only enhance leisure travel and business connectivity but also strengthen the cultural and economic ties between Scotland and the United States.
The launch of JetBlue’s direct flights between Edinburgh and New York comes at a time when Scotland’s tourism industry is experiencing a remarkable resurgence.
With visitor numbers already surpassing pre-pandemic levels, this new route is expected to further boost the country’s appeal as a top destination for American travelers.
Malcolm Roughead, VisitScotland Chief Executive, commented on the significance of the new route, stating, “The arrival of this brand new seasonal route, which marks JetBlue’s debut in Scotland, is further evidence of the strong demand we are seeing from American visitors for 2024. The US is our most important global market bringing visitors who often stay longer and spend more exploring all our country has to offer.”
“Good connectivity helps makes Scotland a more desirable destination, boosting inbound tourism which in turn grows the wider visitor economy, helping create jobs and sustain communities. It is therefore vital we continue to make it as easy as possible for international visitors to come to Scotland.”
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