JetBlue Airways is adjusting its schedule at San Diego International airport by transitioning flights to Seattle to seasonal service and eliminating service to Salt Lake City.

New York-based JetBlue will discontinue its single daily flight between San Diego and Salt Lake City from 31 October.

"The San Diego-Salt Lake route has underperformed over the past year. Given the economic environment it doesn't make sense to maintain unprofitable services," a JetBlue spokesman explains, adding, "The San Diego route struggled despite increased sales, promotional and advertising activities in Salt Lake City, showing that the difficulties on the route are due to poor demand rather than awareness or competition."

The carrier does face competition on that city pair from Delta Air Lines and its regional partner SkyWest Airlines.

Delta and SkyWest, under the Delta Connection banner, both fly between San Diego and Salt Lake City twice daily.

In addition to ending San Diego-Salt Lake City operations, JetBlue plans to nix year-round San Diego-Seattle flights in 8 September. The carrier intends to resume seasonal service next year.

While JetBlue prepares to end that city pair for the year, Alaska Airlines continues to fly between San Diego and Seattle seven times daily Monday through Friday. Seattle-based Alaska also connects San Diego and Seattle with reduced weekend service.

Despite JetBlue's forthcoming reductions, the carrier will maintain transcontinental fights from San Diego to New York JFK and Boston Logan International airports.

Boston service will continue to be once daily but New York JFK connections will be available twice daily under the fall and winter schedule, down from the thrice daily flights offered in the summer.

In addition to its adjustments in San Diego, JetBlue is preparing to cut three daily flights between the California cities of Long Beach and San Jose on 4 January.

Also in January, the airline will bolster existing frequencies in San Francisco and Oakland.

Source: Air Transport Intelligence news