JetBlue Airways Corporation (NASDAQ: JBLU) announced on Tuesday that its chief executive officer, Robin Hayes, will resign from his position effective January 31, 2024. Hayes, who has led the airline since 2015, will be succeeded by Joanna Geraghty, the current president and chief operating officer of JetBlue.
Hayes said in a statement that he was proud of what he and his team had accomplished during his tenure, including expanding the network, enhancing the customer experience, launching new products and services, and navigating the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic. He also expressed his confidence in Geraghty’s leadership and vision for the future of JetBlue.
“I have decided that now is the right time for me to step aside and pursue new opportunities,” Hayes said. “I am grateful for the support and trust of our board, our crewmembers, and our loyal customers over the years. I look forward to seeing JetBlue soar to new heights under Joanna’s guidance.”
Geraghty to lead the merger with Spirit Airlines
Geraghty, who joined JetBlue in 2005 and has held various senior roles in the company, will become the second female CEO of a major U.S. airline, after Sara Nelson of United Airlines. She will also oversee the completion of JetBlue’s planned combination with Spirit Airlines, Inc. (NYSE: SAVE), which was announced in June 2023 and is expected to close in the first half of 2024.
The merger, which has faced opposition from the U.S. Department of Justice and some state attorneys general, aims to create a national low-fare challenger to the dominant carriers in the U.S. market. JetBlue and Spirit have argued that the deal will benefit consumers by offering more choices, lower fares, and better service, especially in underserved markets.
“I am honored and humbled to lead JetBlue at this pivotal moment in our history,” Geraghty said. “Robin has been a mentor and a friend to me, and I thank him for his remarkable contributions to our company and our industry. I am excited to work with our talented crewmembers and partners to realize the full potential of our merger with Spirit and to continue delivering on our mission of inspiring humanity.”
JetBlue reports strong results for Q4 2023
In conjunction with the announcement of Hayes’ resignation, JetBlue also released its financial results for the fourth quarter of 2023. The airline reported a net income of $312 million, or $0.97 per diluted share, on revenue of $3.2 billion, beating analysts’ expectations. This compares to a net loss of $381 million, or $1.18 per diluted share, on revenue of $1.6 billion in the same period of 2022.
The airline attributed its strong performance to the recovery of travel demand, especially for leisure and visiting-friends-and-relatives (VFR) segments, as well as its commercial initiatives, cost discipline, and operational excellence. JetBlue also said it expects to achieve a positive cash flow in 2024 and to return to its pre-pandemic profitability levels by 2025.
“We are very pleased with our results for the fourth quarter and the full year of 2023, which reflect the resilience and agility of our business model and our crewmembers,” said Steve Priest, chief financial officer of JetBlue. “We have successfully navigated the unprecedented crisis of the pandemic and emerged as a stronger and more competitive airline. We are optimistic about the outlook for 2024 and beyond, as we execute our growth strategy and create value for our stakeholders.”