<SUBMISSION>
<ACCESSION-NUMBER>0001179110-04-018592
<TYPE>4
<PUBLIC-DOCUMENT-COUNT>1
<PERIOD>20040923
<FILING-DATE>20040923
<DATE-OF-FILING-DATE-CHANGE>20040923
<ISSUER>
<COMPANY-DATA>
<CONFORMED-NAME>JETBLUE AIRWAYS CORP
<CIK>0001158463
<ASSIGNED-SIC>4512
<IRS-NUMBER>870617894
<STATE-OF-INCORPORATION>DE
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>1231
</COMPANY-DATA>
<BUSINESS-ADDRESS>
<STREET1>118-29 QUEENS BOULEVARD
<CITY>FOREST HILLS
<STATE>NY
<ZIP>11375
<PHONE>7182867900
</BUSINESS-ADDRESS>
<MAIL-ADDRESS>
<STREET1>118-29 QUEENS BOULEVARD
<CITY>FOREST HILLS
<STATE>NY
<ZIP>11375
</MAIL-ADDRESS>
</ISSUER>
<REPORTING-OWNER>
<OWNER-DATA>
<CONFORMED-NAME>KELLY THOMAS E
<CIK>0001207014
</OWNER-DATA>
<FILING-VALUES>
<FORM-TYPE>4
<ACT>34
<FILE-NUMBER>000-49728
<FILM-NUMBER>041042236
</FILING-VALUES>
<BUSINESS-ADDRESS>
<STREET1>80-02 KEW GARDENS ROAD
<CITY>KEW GARDENS
<STATE>NY
<ZIP>11415
<PHONE>2036567604
</BUSINESS-ADDRESS>
<MAIL-ADDRESS>
<STREET1>80-02 KEW GARDENS ROAD
<CITY>KEW GARDENS
<STATE>NY
<ZIP>11415
</MAIL-ADDRESS>
</REPORTING-OWNER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>edgar.xml
<DESCRIPTION>FORM 4 -
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0202</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2004-09-23</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0001158463</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>JETBLUE AIRWAYS CORP</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>JBLU</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001207014</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>KELLY THOMAS E</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>JETBLUE AIRWAYS CORPORATION</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>118-29 QUEENS BLVD.</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>FOREST HILLS</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>NY</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>11375</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>Executive Vice President</officerTitle>
            <otherText></otherText>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2004-09-23</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <deemedExecutionDate>
                <value>2004-09-23</value>
            </deemedExecutionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>S</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>1800</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>22.63</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>324549</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                    <footnoteId id="F3"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>By Trust</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F4"/>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <derivativeTable></derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">These shares were sold in compliance with a qualified selling plan adopted by the reporting person pursuant to Rule 10b5-1 promulgated under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">Excludes 6,917 shares held directly by reporting person.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F3">Reflects 2,300 shares transferred through a bonafide gift by the reporting person in a transaction exempt from Section 16(b) under SEC Rule 16b-5.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F4">These shares are held by Kelly Holdings, L.C. The reporting person is the manager of Kelly Holdings, L.C. and the reporting person disclaims beneficial ownership in these shares except to the extent of his pecuniary interest in such shares.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Thomas E. Kelly</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2004-09-23</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>

</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SUBMISSION>
