<SUBMISSION>
<ACCESSION-NUMBER>0001179110-04-023488
<TYPE>4
<PUBLIC-DOCUMENT-COUNT>1
<PERIOD>20041215
<FILING-DATE>20041217
<DATE-OF-FILING-DATE-CHANGE>20041217
<REPORTING-OWNER>
<OWNER-DATA>
<CONFORMED-NAME>NELSON HOLLY
<CIK>0001207012
</OWNER-DATA>
<FILING-VALUES>
<FORM-TYPE>4
<ACT>34
<FILE-NUMBER>000-49728
<FILM-NUMBER>041210674
</FILING-VALUES>
<BUSINESS-ADDRESS>
<PHONE>2036567604
</BUSINESS-ADDRESS>
<MAIL-ADDRESS>
<STREET1>80-02 KEW GARDENS ROAD
<CITY>KEW GARDENS
<STATE>NY
<ZIP>11415
</MAIL-ADDRESS>
</REPORTING-OWNER>
<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>
<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>2004-12-15</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

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

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001207012</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>NELSON HOLLY</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>JETBLUE AIRWAYS CORPORATION</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>118-29 QUEENS BOULEVARD</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>Vice President and Controller</officerTitle>
            <otherText></otherText>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2004-12-15</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <deemedExecutionDate>
                <value>2004-12-15</value>
            </deemedExecutionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>S</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>500</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>23.45</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>10993</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <derivativeTable></derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Includes 459 shares which were acquired on October 31, 2004 through participation in issuer's crewmember stock purchase plan in an exempt transaction under Section 16(b) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Holly Nelson</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2004-12-15</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>

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