JetBlue Airways builds its network strength as cost headwinds strengthen

JetBlue Airways reached some solid milestones in its 4Q2013 and FY2013 results, booking its most profitable year in the company's history, its fifth consecutive profitable year and its highest quarterly operating income.

Those accomplishments are tempered by JetBlue narrowly missing its return targets for FY2013 and an expected rise in unit costs for FY2014 of 3% to 5% driven in large part by increasing labour costs.

As it works to balance those headwinds, Fort Lauderdale continues to be a strategic focus of JetBlue's network expansion during 2014 as the carrier works steadily towards its goal of reaching 100 daily departures at the South Florida airport. The carrier has also acquired additional slots at Washington National airport, which could expand its offering to 30 daily roundtrip flights from the airport.