<ownershipDocument>
    <schemaVersion>X0101</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>
<periodOfReport>2003-07-03</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>  </rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>  </rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>  </rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>  </rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>  </rptOwnerZipCode>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
            <reportingOwnerRelationship>
<isDirector>0</isDirector>
<isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
<isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
<isOther>0</isOther>
<officerTitle>Executive Vice President</officerTitle>
<otherText></otherText>
</reportingOwnerRelationship>
</reportingOwner>
<nonDerivativeSecurity><securityTitle><value>Common Stock</value>
</securityTitle>
<transactionDate><value>2003-07-03</value>
</transactionDate>
<deemedExecutionDate><value>2003-07-03</value>
</deemedExecutionDate>
<transactionCoding><transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
<transactionCode>S</transactionCode>
<equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
<footnoteId id="F1"></footnoteId>
</transactionCoding>
<transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>1500</value>
</transactionShares>
<transactionValue><value>42.60</value>
</transactionValue>
<transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>D</value>
</transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
</transactionAmounts>
<postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>319966</value>
<footnoteId id="F2"></footnoteId>
</sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
</postTransactionAmounts>
<ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>I</value>
</directOrIndirectOwnership>
<natureOfOwnership><value>By Trust</value>
<footnoteId id="F3"></footnoteId>
<footnoteId id="F4"></footnoteId>
</natureOfOwnership>
</ownershipNature>
</nonDerivativeSecurity>
<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 2,697 shares held directly by reporting person. </footnote>
<footnote id="F3">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>
<footnote id="F4">61,290 of the shares are subject to a right of repurchase in favor of the issuer in the event the reporting person ceases to render services to the issuer. Such right of repurchase lapses with respect to such shares on September 18, 2003.</footnote>
</footnotes>
<ownerSignature><signatureName>Thomas E. Kelly</signatureName>
<signatureDate>2003-07-03</signatureDate>
</ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>

