JetBlue is updating the interiors of its Airbus A320s, some of which date back to the airline's start nearly 20 years ago, adding adjustable headrests, power outlets, updated TVs and lighting.
That's the good news. The bad news is that they're also adding another dozen seats in each plane, and the space comes from where you think it does: Seat pitch, which has been 34" will go down to 32" as it is on JetBlue's newer A321s. The airline still claims it will offer the most average legroom among U.S. airlines...but not by much.
The A320s, which have been flying with 150 seats will have 162 when they return from the upgrade shop. Still, better than Frontier, which has 180. The pressure for more seats comes from investors, who want more revenue from the airline. That was the motive behind Mint, the airline's first venture into a premium class, and it's driving the creation of more seats without adding more planes.
It will take a while to happen system-wide, perhaps over three years. Each plane needs about a month for the upgrade, and the airline is staging its plans carefully to avoid taking planes out of service during busy seasons.
But...you'll still get plenty of those blue corn chips!
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