Joanna Geraghty, JetBlue's current chief operating officer and president, will take over as CEO on February 12, making her the first woman to lead a major U.S. airline. This transfer comes after the company's existing CEO, Robin Hayes, decided to step down and transition into a strategic advisory role.
Joanna highlighted her delight and honour at JetBlue's disruptive impact, praising the airline's valued brand, industry-leading customer experience, distinct culture, and outstanding crewmembers. Robin, who has served as CEO, stated that his decision to step down was prompted by a desire to focus on his health, acknowledging that the role's particular duties and expectations had taken a toll on him.
Joanna takes over at a time when JetBlue is dealing with challenges such as an expected merger with Spirit Airlines, falling revenues due to sluggish domestic travel demand, and the loss of its Northeast Alliance alliance with American Airlines. Despite these challenges, the airline reported strong December demand and exceptional holiday operational performance.
Joanna has almost two decades of experience with JetBlue, serving as executive vice president of customer experience and director of litigation and regulatory affairs. Her appointment places her among a select handful of female CEOs in the airline industry worldwide.
JetBlue's shares surged 2% after Geraghty's historic appointment as CEO was announced. The airline will report its fourth-quarter results on January 30.
