If the pitch was so great, I would imagine jetBlue have already selected STN and would have announced it yesterday. Really this just feels like an announcement to appease the investors and show that jetBlue is 'growing' and 'maturing' their model. It's nothing new or exciting and far from guaranteed to make money. I don't think jetBlue have 'gamed' anyone, Delta have already announced JFK and BOS to LGW and have strong brands at both ends of the routes, with DL in the US and Virgin in the UK. Virgin have a strong following in the holidays market and a number of showcase high-street stores. They seem well-placed to market the route.
By giving competitors such a long warning time, I think jetBlue have decreased their chances of success. For example, AA already have A321neos on-property and a fleet of A321ceo in a premium layout. Whats to stop them reconfiguring and launching JFK-STN on the A321neo in time for summer 2020? They've pulled this trick before. The A321neo at Primera didn't end well, but for the purposes of keeping jetBlue out of Europe, AA/BA might find the 'investment' worth while.

Certainly lots of issues there in #1723 then some valid others not so perhaps.

Gaming it appears... why not just announce in say late `20 when all the ducks are in a row.

Highly suspected that Delta announced LGW last week to stymie JBU but are now committed a year early to the wrong airport who can say.

Obviously was/is a good pitch by MAG because JBU did not announce LHR/LGW exactly either yesterday...with enough latitude & options then around LON to game it perhaps.

It is new & exciting for the traveller if the "mint" service is available with better pricing with that model in comparison with the established airlines to LON.

JBU are "maturing" of course it then follows too that they have a strong brand certainly on the US East Coast.

Agree it helps JBU to appease investors & increases market value within the predatory US airline takeover market.

Primera itself did not end well but the A321N itself performed very well against most expectations.

With the right operator be it JBU or AA then Stansted could deliver.

With the long lead to first deliveries of the right a/c JBU have nothing to lose with the current state of play,indeed also some suggestions that Airbus would charge no extra for the change to the more expensive XLR model announced yesterday too.

SSB, I agree with much of what you say, but I think breaking into the East Coast-London market will br incredibly difficult. Whatever they choose, B6 will find LON-NYC and BOS incredibly competitive. Between the frequency offer by BA/AA (up to 16 flights each way, each day), 9 flights each way with VS/DL and low fares offered by Norwegian (twice daily) to NYC alone, one wonders what the gap in the market really is? Would STN, jetBlue and Mint alone be point of difference enough for success? I agree that Primera proved that even the 321neo can reliably operate to STN from the East Coast, the LR or XLR would, of course, be better, but I think that's a bigger risk in announcing now. I just can't quite understand why they are giving their competitors 2 years notice of their plans. If they wanted to, AA could configure some of their A321neo for Transatlantic service for Summer 2020, or even the winter 2019 schedule and have JFK and BOS-STN up and running before Airbus even begin to assemble jetBlues first 321LR. AA could easily use these aircraft on South America or transcontinental services without configuring them back, so its pretty low risk.

With such a delay its probably best to keep it to "London" rather than specify an airport.

EZY W19/20
 

Interesting analysis regarding Indigo.

STN have been listing for some time the Sub Continent as a likely destination.

Hopefully something may come from this latest interest. Indigo did have LGW slots in the past but it is interesting they may now regard LGW/LHR covered to an extent with their THY code share.

It appears the latest A321XLR model/s are probably going to help opening STN up to new operators & destinations.

Whether detrimental or not to the Indigo prospect is the news elsewhere that Jet Airways are at least for this evening cancelling all international services inc LHR due to only having just over a dozen a/c available now & also defaulting on Indian licensing obligations for International services by operating less than a stipulated 20 a/c overall.

I see Ryanair have added Dresden, which seems to be a direct replacement for Leipzig.

Busy Easter.

Up to 340,000 passengers projected at STN for the Easter Weekend 19/22 April.

Air Corsica/CCM commenced their extended Summer`19 season this AM with 2 services one from/to Ajaccio & one from/to Bastia.

Services this Summer now with 4 destinations with Figari commencing 11.5.19 & new destination Calvi from 18.5.19.

Total services 10 pw.

New route to Essaouira in Morocco with Ryanair for W19/20 twice per week
Easyjet used to fly Luton-Essaouira but dropped the route in 2018

MAG will install 100 new security scanners across the group to speed up operations increase safety & improve the passenger experience with the first to be rolled out as STN this month.

Possibly to this end too & with the security area being enhanced this Autumn some security lanes are being moved outside!!

A temporary structure is to be constructed on the terminal forecourt immediately outside STN`s current security area for Autumn `19.

It requires to be relocated while improvement works are undertaken inside.

The airport state the terminal is becoming too busy to conduct all the planned changes within the existing structure itself.

Uttlesford District Council have been forced to arrange an Extraordinary Council Meeting (ECM) scheduled for tonight 25.4 to consider whether the Final Decision Notice for the approved expansion should be granted before the local elections on 2.5

Stop Stansted Expansion (SSE) through local councillors have forced the ECM but reading through their statement they appear to have backed off High Court action after saying originally the decision was wrong/unlawful to be taken at a local level & now appear to be looking for the local benefits to be provided by STN are properly laid out & mandated.

"SSE is keen to explore every avenue to avoid the need to take legal proceedings".

Basically things are tight and we cannot afford £200k legal fees in court but elections in 2 weeks so we keep the Nimbys happy.

Interpreted correctly it would hopefully appear.

Good others are double speak enabled too.

Notwithstanding service reductions due to DXB r/w works an extra service flies today UAE2641/2 from & to DXB operated by a B77W in the EP* sequence.

BAW/HER & EZY/BCN & AMS diverted to STN earlier due to reported drone activity at LGW.

Latest STN sponsored Jobs Fair to be held 8 May with 350 new full & part time posts for Summer`19 to join the 12,000 strong workforce,STN already being the single largest employer site in the East of England.