<SUBMISSION>
<ACCESSION-NUMBER>0001179110-05-022528
<TYPE>4
<PUBLIC-DOCUMENT-COUNT>1
<PERIOD>20051207
<FILING-DATE>20051208
<DATE-OF-FILING-DATE-CHANGE>20051208
<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>051251007
</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>2005-12-07</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>2005-12-07</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <deemedExecutionDate>
                <value>2005-12-07</value>
            </deemedExecutionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>S</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>500</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>19.03</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>15336</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </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 802 shares held indirectly by the Erin Lou Nelson Children's Trust and 802 shares held indirectly by the Adam Lee Nelson Children's Trust. The reporting person is trustee of such trusts.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Holly Nelson</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2005-12-07</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SUBMISSION>
