Robin Hayes, CEO of JetBlue Airways, speaks to guests after the airline’s inaugural flight from John F. Kennedy Airport in New York to Heathrow Airport in London on August 12, 2021.
Chris J. Ratcliffe | Bloomberg | fake images
JetBlue Chief Executive Robin Hayes will step down from his role next month, the company said Monday. The airline’s chief operating officer, Joanna Geraghty, will take the helm.
The departure comes as JetBlue attempts to acquire a budget airline. Spiritual airlinesa nearly $4 billion combination that the New York-based airline says will help it grow and better compete against larger rivals like Delta and United.
The U.S. Department of Justice sued to block the merger last year. A decision is expected from a federal judge in Boston in the coming weeks after a trial that concluded late last year.
Hayes, a veteran of more than three decades in the airline industry, cited the high-pressure nature of the job in announcing his resignation in a company statement.
“It’s bittersweet to retire from this airline I love, but I will always feel part of the JetBlue team and support its continued success,” Hayes said. “However, the extraordinary challenges and pressure of this job have taken their toll and, on the advice of my doctor and after speaking with my wife, it is time for me to focus more on my health and well-being.”
Hayes will remain on the board until he leaves office on February 12, at which time he will remain as a strategic advisor and Geraghty will join the board.
Joanna Geraghty, president and chief operating officer of JetBlue Airways, speaks during a Bloomberg Television interview at the World Aviation Festival in London on September 5, 2019.
Chris Ratcliffe | Bloomberg | fake images
Geraghty has spent nearly two decades at JetBlue, most of the relatively young airline’s lifespan. During that time, the airline expanded internationally and launched a business class.
But JetBlue, whose flights are concentrated in the congested airspace of the New York area and other busy parts of the country such as Florida, has had problems in recent months.
Geraghty will be tasked with righting the ship and, if the Justice Department fails to block a merger with Spirit, overseeing that merger process. JetBlue plans to convert Spirit’s bright yellow, densely packed planes into its own more comfortable configurations.
Geraghty was appointed chief operating officer in 2018 and led parts of the business, including its growing network and revenue management.
Correction: This story has been updated to correct that Robin Hayes will remain on JetBlue’s board of directors until he steps down as CEO on February 12, 2024.
Don’t miss these CNBC PRO stories:
