How The Wall Street Journal Can Help JetBlue

In a bid to enhance the recreational options for its fliers, JetBlue Airways Corporation JBLU recently teamed up with The Wall Street Journal to offer fliers access to the digital content of the newspaper.

Following this, passengers will be able to enjoy unlimited access to Wall Street Journal's news and video content. To avail this, passengers will need to connect to WSJ.com through the carrier's popular Wi-Fi network – Fly-Fi Hub. 

Passengers of the low-cost carrier will also be provided free home delivery of the daily and access to WSJ.com for a 30-day period. Also, JetBlue fliers will enjoy free access to WSJ.com at terminal 5 of John F. Kennedy international airport starting Mar 2015.

This latest deal is likely to help JetBlue enhance its in-flight entertainment quotient. Earlier, the carrier had collaborated with many content providers like National Geographic, Rouxbe and Time Inc. to deliver free amusement services to its fliers.

Increased long distance traveling has compelled most carriers to offer such entertainment variations to passengers. Moreover, availability of better Wi-Fi connectivity has encouraged these carriers to introduce such services.

In a separate development, JetBlue applied to the U.S. government for the approval of its bilateral codeshare agreement with Iceland carrier – Icelandair. If granted, the carriers will jointly gain access to U.S. and Europe gateways.

Last month, JetBlue initiated twice daily non-stop flights from San Francisco International Airport (SFO) to Las Vegas' McCarran International Airport. Previous to this, in Dec 2014, JetBlue had launched new routes from Ronald Reagan National Airport to Fort Myers and West Palm Beach in Florida. The carrier also offers two daily non-stop flights to Jacksonville along with every day flights to Fort Myers and West Palm Beach.

The Bottom Line

Hence, it's possible such in-flight service enhancements coupled with continuous route expansion and codeshare agreements will not only boost air traffic for JetBlue but will also drive passenger revenue growth going forward.