JetBlue Airways announced on Tuesday that it will be ending service at several cities and reducing flying out of Los Angeles in an effort to cut costs and focus on stronger markets after years of financial losses. The decision comes as the airline grapples with the grounding of some of its planes for inspections of their Pratt & Whitney engines.

According to a memo sent to employees by Dave Jehn, the airline's vice president of network planning, JetBlue will be pulling out of Kansas City, Missouri; Bogota, Colombia; Quito, Ecuador; and Lima, Peru starting June 13. The airline cited these markets as unprofitable and stated that their aircraft time could be better utilized elsewhere.

In addition to these changes, JetBlue will also be dropping several destinations from Los Angeles, including Seattle, San Francisco, Las Vegas, and Miami. Flights between Fort Lauderdale, Florida, and Atlanta; Austin, Texas; Nashville; New Orleans; and Salt Lake City will also be discontinued, as well as service between New York and Detroit.

These route cuts come after a federal judge blocked JetBlue's $3.8 billion bid for Spirit Airlines earlier this year. The airline has also faced setbacks in its attempts to grow through partnerships and mergers, with the Biden administration's Justice Department intervening in these deals.

The architect of these unsuccessful deals, Robin Hayes, stepped down as CEO in February and was replaced by Joanna Geraghty. JetBlue, under Geraghty's leadership, is now turning towards growing on its own, a process that will take longer but is seen as necessary for the airline's financial stability.

JetBlue's struggles have also been reflected in its operational performance, with the airline ranking ninth out of the nation's 10 largest airlines in both canceled flights and on-time arrivals last year, according to U.S. Transportation Department numbers.

The airline's decision to eliminate unprofitable routes and focus on stronger markets is aimed at improving its financial performance and ensuring the long-term sustainability of the business.