JetBlue Confirms Domestic First Class Rollout: When Will Mini Mint Take Flight?

JetBlue is moving forward with its long-anticipated JetBlue domestic first class product. The new offering aims to bridge the service gap between the standard Core cabin and the premium Mint business class. This premium cabin rollout is a key part of the airline's strategy to capture more high-margin revenue from domestic premium travel customers.

The New "Mini Mint" Product Details

The new first-class cabin is informally known as "Mini Mint" or "Junior Mint." It will feature a standard recliner-style seat in a two-by-two configuration. The airline has selected the Collins Aerospace MiQ seat for this new cabin. This seat is commonly used for domestic first class on other major U.S. carriers.

First class seats will offer a pitch of 36 to 37 inches. This provides significantly more space than the standard economy seats. The new cabin will be installed on all JetBlue aircraft that do not currently feature the Mint product.

Rollout Schedule and Fleet Reconfiguration

The JetBlue fleet reconfiguration is scheduled to begin in 2026. The initial prototype installation is slated for June 2026. Full-scale installations are expected to commence in August 2026, starting with the Airbus A320 fleet.

The airline plans a rapid pace of approximately 20 aircraft completed per month. However, the full retrofit of the non-Mint Airbus A220 A320 A321 fleet is a multi-year project. It is expected to stretch deep into 2027 or potentially beyond.

Regulatory approval is a critical step before physical installation can begin. The necessary FAA certification for the new seats and cabin layout is currently underway.

Impact on Seat Count and Economy Legroom

The introduction of the JetBlue domestic first class will alter the seating capacity across the affected fleet. The new configuration will feature eight first-class seats on the Airbus A220. The larger A320, A321ceo, and A321neo aircraft will all feature 12 first-class seats.

• Airbus A220: 8 First Class / 135 Economy (143 total seats)
• Airbus A320: 12 First Class / 150 Economy (162 total seats)
• Airbus A321ceo: 12 First Class / 186 Economy (198 total seats)
• Airbus A321neo: 12 First Class / 188 Economy (200 total seats)

This airline seat count changes comes with a significant trade-off for economy passengers. To accommodate the new premium cabin, the pitch in the Core economy cabin will be reduced. JetBlue has long been known for its industry-leading 32 inches of economy legroom. The new standard Core pitch will drop to 30 inches, aligning it with many other U.S. carriers.

This move is a major shift in the airline's core value proposition. It signals a strong focus on maximizing revenue per flight. This is essential commercial aviation news for all stakeholders. The new product provides a much-needed JetBlue Mint alternative on shorter routes. The airline is also opening new airport lounges in 2025 as part of its premium push. More details on in-flight service and amenities for the new cabin are still pending release. For the latest flight operation news and updates on this story, visit flying.flights.