<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0306</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2020-02-25</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

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

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001443146</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>Gemkow Stephan</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>C/O JETBLUE AIRWAYS CORPORATION</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>27-01 QUEENS PLAZA NORTH</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>LONG ISLAND CITY</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>NY</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>11101</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle></officerTitle>
            <otherText></otherText>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2020-02-25</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>6849</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>18.25</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>76247</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <derivativeTable></derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">This represents an award of deferred stock units (&quot;DSUs&quot;). Each unit will entitle the Reporting Person to one share of Issuer's common stock upon vesting; settlement of vested DSUs will occur six months following Reporting Person's departure from Issuer's Board of Directors.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">The shares subject to the DSUs are scheduled to vest over one year, measured from the vesting commencement date of February 25, 2020.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ Eileen McCarthy by power of attorney for Stephan Gemkow by power</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2020-02-27</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
