David Neeleman, founder of JetBlue Airways (B6, New York JFK), among other airlines, has said that JetBlue is at risk of going bankrupt in 2026 due to sky-high jet fuel prices.

“JetBlue is in a really tough spot. They really are,” Neeleman said at a Breeze Airways pilot pocket session, which was recorded online and made available on social media. “When Jamie Baker, who is an analyst for J.P. Morgan, came out with his estimates for all the airlines based on USD4.50 [fuel per gallon], it showed JetBlue losing USD1.3 billion this year. That would probably put them, you know, into bankruptcy, I would assume.”

ch-aviation reached out to JetBlue for comment, but it was not immediately available.

Neeleman elaborated that losses of over USD1 billion could push the airline’s debt to around USD9 billion and current annual interest costs from USD600 million to about USD800 million.

In late March 2026, it was reported that JetBlue had brought in advisers to assess the viability of the carrier being sold to a rival airline. Neeleman could not see any potential buyers for JetBlue, however.

“I know it from a pretty good source inside of United Airlines that they’re very concerned about JetBlue’s debt. And they’re not really interested in taking that on. So I think JetBlue has very few options. I don’t think Southwest Airlines is interested in them. I know Alaska Airlines isn’t [...]. If fuel went back to USD2.50 per gallon, they would just be with their nose above the water,” he explained.

At the end of 2025, JetBlue closed with operating revenue worth USD9.1 billion, liquidity of USD2.5 billion, and a net loss of USD602 million, operating in an environment of an average cost of fuel per gallon of USD2.49.

In early April, US Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said he believed there was room for consolidation in the US airline industry. The current administration has already approved the acquisition of Sun Country Airlines by Allegiant Air, and more recently United Airlines’ chief executive has toyed with the idea of a potential merger with rival American Airlines.