Longtime JetBlue CEO Robin Hayes will retire, the airline introduced Monday, and might be succeeded by airline president Joanna Geraghty.
Hayes, who’s 57, will step down efficient Feb 12., the airline stated, citing well being causes.
“I’ve beloved working on this trade,” Hayes stated in a press release. “Nevertheless, the extraordinary challenges and strain of this job have taken their toll, and on the recommendation of my physician and after speaking to my spouse, it is time I put extra deal with my well being and well-being.”
Need extra aviation information? Join TPG’s free biweekly Aviation e-newsletter.
Geraghty, who has been with JetBlue for almost 20 years, would be the first girl to guide a serious U.S. airline.
“I am so happy with what we have completed over the past 20-plus years, and I’m wanting ahead to constructing on this momentum as we execute on our strategic initiatives, return to worthwhile progress, and generate sustainable worth for our shareholders and all our stakeholders,” Geraghty stated in a press release.
Hayes has helmed the New York-based service since early 2015. He joined the airline in 2008 after working at British Airways as government vice chairman for the Americas.
Throughout his time on the airline, by stints as chief industrial officer, president, and finally chief government, Hayes led the cost to increase and develop the airline past a small, quirky boutique service. He led the event and enlargement of the airline’s Mint enterprise class product, together with the airline’s first routes to Europe.
He additionally spearheaded efforts to develop the airline by partnerships and acquisitions. Underneath Hayes, JetBlue tried to purchase Virgin America in 2016, however was finally outbid by Alaska Airways.
Day by day E-newsletter
Reward your inbox with the TPG Day by day e-newsletter
Be a part of over 700,000 readers for breaking information, in-depth guides and unique offers from TPG’s specialists
In 2020, JetBlue and American Airways introduced the Northeast Alliance, a detailed codeshare and frequent flyer partnership that got here to outline the airways’ respective home networks over the following two years. The partnership was challenged by the Division of Justice below the Biden Administration and dismantled in 2023 after a choose dominated that it was anti-competitive.
Hayes’ departure comes at an inflection level for the airline because it awaits the choice in one other antitrust trial, difficult its deliberate acquisition of Spirit Airways.
In that case, which was heard in federal District Court docket in Boston late final 12 months, JetBlue argued that it wanted to develop by the merger as a way to compete successfully with the “large 4” airways that dominate 80% of the U.S. market — American, Delta, United and Southwest. By buying Spirit’s plane and staff, JetBlue might successfully double in measurement to grow to be the fifth-largest U.S. service.
The DOJ, nevertheless, argued that eradicating Spirit from the market would trigger the bottom fares to rise. JetBlue and Spirit countered that they may deliver median fares down by competing successfully towards the massive 4.
JetBlue has not stated what it might do if the merger is blocked.
Whatever the consequence, it is going to be on Geraghty to guide the airline ahead.
Each Hayes and Geraghty collectively introduced the airline by the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic, and Geraghty has been actively concerned with the day-to-day operation of the airline, in addition to strategic planning, Hayes stated in a press release.
Lately, the airline has put Geraghty ahead more and more as a face of the airline, tapping her to liaise with media, companions and different stakeholders. She has flown on inaugural flights and engaged with companions on the airline’s transatlantic enlargement, and been arguably extra outspoken than Hayes because the airline started its bid to accumulate Spirit.
Geraghty, 51, started her profession as an legal professional and was a companion on the regulation agency Holland & Knight earlier than becoming a member of JetBlue as a lawyer in 2005.
Associated studying:
