Here’s What Holiday Travelers Should Know

New York City-based budget carrier JetBlue has been slashing flights in and out of the Big Apple in 2026, according to TheTravel’s analysis of data from aviation analytics company Cirium. JetBlue’s flight offerings for John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK), LaGuardia Airport (LGA), and Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR) have dropped by more than 10% for November 2026, compared to the same period last year.

And roughly the same percentage from October 2025 to October 2026.

The November cuts amount to a loss of 767 flights, meaning the carrier cut roughly 26 flights and over 3,500 seats per day. TheTravel’s analysis of Cirium data previously found that cheaper flight options from New York to Florida have gotten scarcer, comparing November 2025 to November 2026.

However, this latest analysis shows that JetBlue hasn’t just cut New York flights to Florida but also between New York and several other popular U.S. destinations, meaning holiday travelers should expect less seat availability and fewer backup options if their flight is canceled — compared to last year.

JetBlue Has Slashed Flight Offerings Out Of New York City Compared To Last Year

October is typically a less busy time to fly; however, travelers can still expect fewer JetBlue flight options than in 2025.

Here’s a breakdown of how many flights JetBlue has slashed, comparing October 2025 and October 2026:

While most of November is not especially busy in the skies, Thanksgiving week sees record-breaking crowds. Travelers should anticipate fewer JetBlue flights during this holiday period than last year.

Here’s a breakdown of how many flights JetBlue has slashed, comparing November 2025 and November 2026:

Here’s data on how many flights and seats JetBlue has cut between New York-area airports and several U.S. destinations:

Chicago O’Hare International Airport (ORD) and Nashville International Airport (BNA) have seen the most dramatic cuts, with the Queens-based carrier set to fully exit each market after October 25.

The data shows JetBlue’s average trip length rose from roughly 1,189 to 1,224 miles, suggesting the carrier has focused on cutting shorter routes — which is consistent with its Chicago and Nashville exits.

In addition, the Washington, D.C.-area’s Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA) and Pennsylvania’s Pittsburgh International Airport (PIT) have seen nearly half of their JetBlue flights cut compared to last year.

While travelers choosing the airline have fewer options, the date they choose to book their Thanksgiving holiday flight matters for the lowest price.

The Cheapest Times To Book JetBlue Flights In November

According to Google Flights, some of the cheapest days to fly in November are at the beginning of the month. Understandably, most Americans cannot travel weeks before Thanksgiving just to save some money.

For travelers with some flexibility, flying out of New York on November 23 and returning on November 27 is one of the cheapest times to fly JetBlue around the Thanksgiving holiday, which falls on November 26 this year.

For those with more limited flexibility, Google Flights shows that flying on Thanksgiving Day tends to be cheaper than the day before.

As of September 30, here are some of the prices when booking a nonstop round-trip flight between New York and these destinations in the days leading up to Thanksgiving:

While the time around Thanksgiving tends to be more expensive and busier to fly, New Yorkers are paying more for airfare on average at LGA, EWR, and JFK compared to last year.

New York-Area Airports Have Become More Expensive This Year

The Bureau of Transportation Statistics (BTS) has published data on average ticket prices for departures from U.S. airports. The latest data covers the second quarter of 2026, which is from the beginning of April through the end of June.

Here’s a breakdown of how much the average fares have risen when departing from the three major New York-area airports:

As of September 30, Thanksgiving is 56 days away, so travelers still have time to score the best deal on airfare, according to former Spirit Airlines CEO Ben Baldanza.

Baldanza wrote in a 2023 Forbes article that travelers can book the cheapest fare within 90 days of takeoff.

“As the flight gets closer to departure and the booking activity accelerates, the likelihood that the actual sales vary significantly from the forecast increases. This is when the emotional humans get involved and decide a sale is needed to firm up the bookings,” he wrote.

Those flying JetBlue this Thanksgiving should expect fewer flights than last year, but that doesn’t mean that, moving forward, getting the cheapest ticket means booking as far out in advance as possible.