The airline was originally founded as JetSuiteX by parent companyJetSuite in April 2016. According to JetSuite CEOAlex Wilcox, the air carrier was created in response to declining short-haul traffic and the rise in fares on short-haul flights in the United States. Wilcox attributes these phenomena in part to long wait times in airports. JSX targets time-sensitive travelers who seek an experience better than that of traditional low-cost flights but not as expensive as private jet travel. The company started operations on April 19, 2016, with its first flight between Burbank and Concord in California. On August 8, 2019, JetSuiteX was re-branded as JSX. On April 15, 2020, JetSuite, JSX's sister company, ceased flight operations; the carrier had experienced a sudden 90% drop in business, which Wilcox attributed to widespread stay-at-home orders stemming from the COVID-19 pandemic. On April 28, 2020, JetSuite's parent company Superior Air Charter LLC filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy.
JSX does not participate in any major global airline alliances, but holds codeshare agreements with JetBlue. Passengers can earn TrueBlue points on JSX flights. Since all flights operate out of private FBO, there are no ticketing or baggage agreements at any location.
Fleet
The JSX fleet comprises the following aircraft:
Services
JSX flights depart from private jet terminals, separate from the passenger terminals used by Part 121 and some Part 135 airlines. In some locations the lounge facility is operated by JSX, while in others JSX utilizes FBOs that may or may not provide dedicated space for JSX customers. Complimentary coffee and WiFi are provided to all customers in each of their airport locations. JSX customers are not subject to physical screening by the TSA, but customers are vetted by the TSA Secure Flight program and are subject to additional passive security measures including explosive and weapons detection. Onboard the aircraft JSX offers leather seats with 36" of pitch and in-seat power, and cabin space has been increased by removing overhead compartments. Light snacks, soft drinks, beer, wine and spirits are complimentary during flight.
Simpli-Fly
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, JSX rolled out a new sterilization and contact-less protocol to help customers feel safe returning to the airport. Simpli-Fly is a three pronged initiative focusing on safety, security and simplicity. Since JSX operates out of private facilities, they can control cleaning procedures and capacity. Their existing security protocols already limited the need for the sort of physical screening conducted at TSA checkpoints. This process has been augmented by offering online check-in and touch-free ID scanning at their airport locations for identity verification.
