NEW YORK — JetBlue confirmed it is offering what it calls a voluntary "opt-out" program for certain employees in a move that the New York-based airline hopes will cut costs.
"We are aiming to reduce our fixed costs through voluntary measures by giving people who work in a number of corporate functions, in our airports, and in our customer support center the opportunity to leave JetBlue with a departing pay and benefits package," JetBlue said in a prepared statement.
Aviation insider and Twitter/X user @xJonNYC was among the first to break the news of voluntary, opt out packages at the airline Friday.
The move comes in the wake of last week's blocked merger attempt between JetBlue and Spirit Airlines.
A federal judge sided with Biden's Justice Department, noting that the merger would lessen competition and violate antitrust law.
The DOJ initially sued to block the merger in March 2023.
“Today’s ruling is a victory for tens of millions of travelers who would have faced higher fares and fewer choices had the proposed merger between JetBlue and Spirit been allowed to move forward,” Attorney General Merrick B. Garland said after the Jan. 16 ruling.
JetBlue argued that they needed the merger to both grow as an airline and compete against its bigger rivals across the country.
Now, the airline could end its $3.8 billion bid to acquire Spirit as soon as this Sunday, despite both airlines having filed an intent to appeal the ruling.
As for the voluntary buyouts at JetBlue, the program does not apply to pilots, flight attendants or technicians.