Announcing $99 (a) Introductory Sale Fares Each Way to
Fort Lauderdale, L.A./Long Beach, Orlando and San Francisco;
Service Begins May 1, 2008
Austin Now Linking Popular East and West Coast Destinations
AUSTIN, Texas, Feb. 20, 2008 (PRIME NEWSWIRE) -- Low-fare, high-value JetBlue Airways Corporation (Nasdaq:JBLU) today announces a major expansion of service from Austin-Bergstrom International Airport, with new daily nonstop service to Fort Lauderdale, FL; Orlando, FL; and San Francisco, CA, all beginning this May 1. New nonstop service to L.A./Long Beach, CA, announced last week, will also begin May 1. With the addition of these four new cities, JetBlue now offers six nonstop destinations from the 'Live Music Capital of the World.'
To celebrate its commitment to the Austin community, the award-winning low-fare carrier is offering introductory one-way sale fares to Fort Lauderdale, Long Beach, Orlando and San Francisco starting at $99(a) each way. Travel must be booked by February 29, 2008 at 11:59 p.m. MT and completed by June 18. Other restrictions apply (a).
JetBlue's growth in Austin will offer service to both the East and West Coasts on board its brand-new EMBRAER 190 aircraft. The full-size E190, a quiet 100-seat jet, offers travelers all the comforts they have come to expect on JetBlue: 36 channels of free live DIRECTV(r) programming, more than 100 channels of XM Satellite Radio(r), plus comfy leather seats (and no middle seat!), the most legroom in coach and JetBlue's award-winning customer service. All in-flight snacks and non-alcoholic beverages are complimentary and 100% trans-fat free.
"In two short years, JetBlue struck a chord with Austin travelers and vacationers, who have connected overwhelmingly with our award-winning JetBlue Experience," said JetBlue CEO Dave Barger. "Today, we're pleased to give our customers in Austin what they've been asking for: more destinations, more affordable flights and more convenient nonstop and connecting service from coast to coast."
"Since setting up its first Texas destination in Austin two years ago, JetBlue has achieved great success in the Lone Star State's Capitol city," said Texas Gov. Rick Perry. "With the addition of four more non-stop services, Austin is quickly emerging as a link between the airline's East and West coast service. JetBlue's expansion brings significant economic investment to our state and, in turn, provides Texans with more choices when they travel."
"By creating a bridge between the East and West Coasts for their E190 aircraft and tripling their nonstop destinations, JetBlue has illustrated its commitment to stimulating more travel and strengthening the economy of Austin," said Austin Mayor Will Wynn. "We are excited that JetBlue recognizes the growth potential of our great city and we look forward to JetBlue providing travelers with even more direct flights and low fares to and from their favorite destinations."
JetBlue currently offers customers daily nonstop service from Austin to Boston and three daily flights to its home base at New York's John F. Kennedy International Airport. Starting May 1, the airline will add 50 additional seats per flight between Austin and Boston by flying a 150-passenger Airbus A320 aircraft on the route. Today, Austin customers can connect through BOS and JFK to 13 other JetBlue destinations, including: Bermuda; Buffalo, Rochester and Syracuse, NY; Burlington, VT; Charlotte and Raleigh/Durham, NC; Chicago, IL; Nantucket, MA; Pittsburgh, PA; Portland, ME; Richmond, VA; and Washington, D.C./Dulles. With these new service announcements, Austin customers can also now easily connect to Aguadilla, Puerto Rico and Newark, NJ via Orlando and to Oakland, CA and Salt Lake City, UT via Long Beach. Additionally, customers from Orlando will have convenient one-stop service via Austin to Long Beach and connecting service to San Francisco. One-stop service will also be available between Fort Lauderdale and San Francisco through Austin.
JetBlue's new Austin service:
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From To Depart-Arrive Sale fare (a)
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Austin Fort Lauderdale 2:35 p.m.-6:30 p.m.
$99
Fort Lauderdale Austin 4:20 p.m.-6:20 p.m.
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Austin Long Beach 6 p.m.-7:05 p.m.
$99
Long Beach Austin 10:15 a.m.-3:15 p.m.
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Austin Orlando 4 p.m.-7:40 p.m.
$99
Orlando Austin 3:35 p.m.-5:20 p.m.
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Austin San Francisco 6:55 p.m.-8:35 p.m.
$99
San Francisco Austin 8:30 a.m.-2 p.m.
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JetBlue is pleased to support community initiatives in Austin and was a major sponsor of the recently completed 3M Half Marathon & Relay and the Austin Marathon. The airline will continue its community involvement as a sponsor of the Statesman Capitol 10K in March and by supporting teachers and students in the Austin Independent School District through Austin Partners in Education. Local residents and visitors will be able to experience JetBlue first hand when they encounter Blue Betty -- JetBlue's mobile marketing Airstream -- who is visiting the greater Austin area through February 24. Betty offers a slice of the "JetBlue Experience" with aircraft seats, DIRECTV(r) and XM Satellite Radio(r) feeds, and an interactive route map.
About JetBlue Airways
New York-based JetBlue Airways has created a new airline category based on value, service and style. Known for its award-winning service and free TV as much as its low fares, JetBlue is now pleased to offer customers the most legroom throughout coach (based on average fleet-wide seat pitch for U.S. airlines). JetBlue introduced complimentary in-flight e-mail and instant messaging services on aircraft "BetaBlue," a first among U.S. domestic airlines. JetBlue is also America's first and only airline to offer its own Customer Bill of Rights, with meaningful and specific compensation for customers inconvenienced by service disruptions within JetBlue's control. Visit www.jetblue.com/promise for details. JetBlue serves 53 cities with 550 daily flights. New service to Los Angeles International Airport begins in May. With JetBlue, all seats are assigned, all travel is ticketless, all fares are one-way, and an overnight stay is never required. For information or reservations call 1-800-JETBLUE (1-800-538-2583) or visit www.jetblue.com.
The JetBlue logo is available at http://www.primenewswire.com/newsroom/prs/?pkgid=795
(a) All fares are subject to change without notice. Fares are only available for flights booked at jetblue.com. Travel costs $10 more per person if purchased by telephone or at an airport or city ticket office. Fares require up to a 21-day advance purchase. Travel must be booked by February 29, 2008, 11:59 PM MT. Travel must be completed by June 18, 2008. Blackout dates for travel are between May 23, 2008 and May 26, 2008. Travel must take place on Tuesday, Wednesday, and/or Saturday. Fares may not be available on all days or on all flights. Fares are most often found on midweek travel dates. All fares must be purchased at time of reservation, and are one-way, nonrefundable, and nontransferable. Cancellations and changes can be made prior to scheduled departure for $50 at 1-800-JETBLUE or $40 at jetblue.com, with applicable fare adjustment. Cancellations are for a JetBlue travel credit only, which is valid for one year. If a reservation is not changed or canceled prior to scheduled departure, all money associated with the reservation is forfeited. Fares do not include Passenger Facility Charges of up to $9 each way, September 11th Security Fees of up to $5 each way and a Federal Segment Tax of $3.50 per domestic segment. A segment is a takeoff and landing. All taxes and fees must be paid at the time of purchase. JetBlue reserves the right to deny boarding to passengers without proper documentation. Other restrictions apply.
DIRECTV(r) service is not available on flights outside the continental United States; however, where applicable FOX InFlight(tm) is offered complimentary on these routes.
This press release contains statements of a forward-looking nature which represent our management's beliefs and assumptions concerning future events. Forward-looking statements involve risks, uncertainties and assumptions, and are based on information currently available to us. Actual results may differ materially from those expressed in the forward-looking statements due to many factors, including, without limitation, our extremely competitive industry; increases in fuel prices, maintenance costs and interest rates; our ability to implement our growth strategy, including the ability to operate reliably the EMBRAER 190 aircraft; our significant fixed obligations; our ability to attract and retain qualified personnel and maintain our culture as we grow; our reliance on high daily aircraft utilization; our dependence on the New York metropolitan market and the effect of increased congestion in this market; our reliance on automated systems and technology; our being subject to potential unionization; our reliance on a limited number of suppliers; changes in or additional government regulation; changes in our industry due to other airlines' financial condition; and external geopolitical events and conditions. Further information concerning these and other factors is contained in the Company's Securities and Exchange Commission filings, including but not limited to, the Company's 2006 Annual Report on Form 10-K and Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q. We undertake no obligation to update any forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances that may arise after the date of this release.