JetBlue Airways (JBLU) stock soared 5.06% in the pre-market on Friday, following the launch of a new premium travel credit card and the release of its Q4 2024 earnings results.
The airline introduced the JetBlue Premier World Elite Mastercard, a high-end credit card with an annual fee of $499. The card offers various luxury travel perks, including lounge access, accelerated earning of Mosaic elite status, and statement credits for purchases on JetBlue's travel booking platform, Paisly. While the card targets JetBlue's most loyal customers, the steep annual fee may limit its appeal to casual travelers.
Additionally, JetBlue reported positive Q4 2024 results, with an adjusted operating margin of 0.8%, over 2 points higher than in 2023. The company attributed the improvement to its JetForward strategic plan and revenue initiatives, which generated $395 million in 2024, exceeding the target by $95 million. However, JetBlue faced ongoing challenges with Pratt & Whitney aircraft groundings, impacting operating margins by approximately 2.5 points in 2024.