JetBlue lands on continued Queens presence

Elected officials and community organizations celebrated JetBlue recommitment to Queens nearly a decade after it first arrived in the borough.  Photo by Kristen Artz/Mayoral Photography

By Rachel Vick

After months of pressure from elected officials to get JetBlue to remain headquartered in Long Island City after its lease expires in 2023, the airline has agreed to stay.

The company will be renegotiating its lease and redesigning its office space in the Brewster Building to meet changing demands, instead of going through with a move.

“JetBlue is a valuable corporate partner here in Queens, and I am overjoyed they will keep their headquarters in Long Island City,” said Borough President Donovan Richards, who worked to convince them to stay in the borough.

“By remaining here in Queens, our borough is connected to one of the world’s largest airlines and entrusted with thousands of jobs that will surely revitalize our economy,” he added. “Queens is the future of New York City, and it is a brighter future with JetBlue remaining in the fold for years to come. Queens is flying high today and open for business.”
Other elected officials who fought for the airline to stay include U.S. Sens. Chuck Schumer and Carolyn Maloney, U.S. Rep. Gregory Meeks and Councilmember Jimmy Van Bramer. The decision was celebrated by business-focused community organizations like the LIC BID, whose Executive Director Elizabeth Lusskin said that the decision to stay while Queens recovers moves beyond simply impactful to “historic.”

In addition to maintaining it’s LIC headquarters, the airline announced it would be moving ahead with plans to expand its flagship terminal at John F. Kennedy International Airport. Terminal 5 will be connected to the $3.9 billion construction of a new Terminal 6, which is expected to bring 4,000 jobs.

They also promised low fares and more jobs to JFK, LaGuardia and Newark as part of the Northeast Alliance with American Airlines. The project will include more than 100,000 square feet of commercial dining and retail amenities, lounges and recreational spaces, improved traffic flow within the airport and sustainable design.

Robin Hayes, the chief executive officer of JetBlue, said that no other airline “knows like we do why this city has always been – and still is – such a great place to live, work and visit.”

“Some people call New York the Big Apple. Others call it the center of the universe. At JetBlue, we call it home,” Hayes said . “Our unique brand and culture have been embraced by millions of New Yorkers for more than two decades, and we remain committed to helping bring this iconic city back from one of the greatest crises it has ever faced.”