NEW YORK, May 10, 2005 (PRIMEZONE) -- JetBlue Airways (Nasdaq:JBLU), New York's low-fare airline, celebrates the opening of the carrier's 140,000-square-foot hangar at John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK).
The new hangar and maintenance facility at JFK, which is to be known as the JetBlue Technical Operations Campus, is the second major structure JetBlue has constructed this year. JetBlue, which became a major airline in January 2005, opened a 100,000-square-foot hangar and LiveTV installation facility at Orlando International Airport at the beginning of this month and plans to open a JetBlue University Support Campus also at Orlando International Airport in early June.
The new JetBlue facility at JFK, the construction for which originally broke ground on August 8, 2003, covers approximately 140,000-square-feet and includes a long-span hangar, various workshops and a state-of-the-art automated parts retrieval and storage system. An office facility attached to the hangar provides offices, break rooms and additional crewmember support space. Additionally, a warehouse for aircraft provisions with loading docks for deliveries completes the campus.
The JetBlue Technical Operations Campus was constructed by Turner Construction Company, with Hellmuth, Obata and Kassabaum, Inc. (HOK) as the design architect. Tishman Construction Corporation served as owner's representative and McClier Corporation provided the original concept design.
"JetBlue is an extraordinary New York City success story," said Mayor Bloomberg. "In a difficult time for the airline industry, JetBlue's formula of low fares and quality service is transforming the industry and proving that airlines can be a growth sector for New York City. I am pleased JetBlue decided to expand its maintenance facilities at JFK Airport, an important project that will add quality jobs to the company's more than 4,000 employees of whom are NYC-based. JetBlue is a great example of how our five-borough economic development strategy and our efforts to diversify New York City's economy are paying off."
"This is a proud day for JetBlue as it cuts the ribbon on a new hangar and other facilities at John F. Kennedy International Airport, the city's international gateway," said Empire State Development Chairman Charles A. Gargano. "This is also great news for the region and the entire state as JetBlue continues to serve as an economic engine, bringing visitors and travelers who are filling our hotels and restaurants and furthering commerce."
"I am proud to stand with my friends at JetBlue as they reach yet another milestone in their JFK-based growth," said Gregory Meeks, Congressman for New York's Sixth Congressional District. "I congratulate all of JetBlue's thousands of JFK crewmembers and I appreciate their tremendous investment in jobs for today and the future and wish them great success with their beautiful new facility."
"Today is another milestone for JetBlue," said David Neeleman, CEO of JetBlue Airways. "Opening our Technical Operations Campus at JFK allows us to continue to be a growing and viable airline at New York's busiest airport. Our technical operations crewmembers will now have a state-of-the-art facility that will allow them to service our JetBlue Airbus A320s and the soon-to-arrive Embraer E190s right in our own backyard and thank them tremendously for their tireless efforts to ensure our planes are always in the air."
JetBlue is a low-fare, low-cost passenger airline, which provides high-quality customer service. JetBlue operates a fleet of 74 new Airbus A320 aircraft and plans to add 10 additional A320s and 7 Embraer E190s to its fleet in 2005. Based at New York City's John F. Kennedy International Airport, JetBlue currently operates 288 flights a day and serves 29 destinations in 12 states, Puerto Rico, the Dominican Republic and The Bahamas. JetBlue plans to commence new service from JFK to Portland, OR on May 17, and to Burbank, CA on May 24.
All JetBlue aircraft feature roomy leather seats; all equipped with an in-seat digital entertainment system offering up to 36 channels of free DIRECTV(r) programming. On many flights, a selection of first-run movies and bonus features from FOX InFlight Premium Entertainment may be available.(1)
With JetBlue, all seats are assigned, all travel is ticketless, all fares are one-way, and an overnight stay is never required. For more information, schedules and fares, please visit www.jetblue.com or call JetBlue reservations at 1-800-JETBLUE (538-2583), 1-888-538-2583 if calling from Puerto Rico, or 1-200-9898 if calling from the Dominican Republic. This press release, as well as past press releases, can be found on www.jetblue.com.
(1)DIRECTV(r) service is not available on flights between JFK and
Puerto Rico or the Dominican Republic; however, where available,
FOX InFlight Premium Entertainment 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, our ability to implement our growth strategy including the integration of the Embraer E190 aircraft into our operations, our significant fixed obligations, our ability to maintain our culture, our reliance on high daily aircraft utilization, increases in maintenance costs, fuel prices, insurance costs and interest rates, our dependence on the New York market, our reliance on automated systems and technology, our reliance on sole suppliers, additional government regulation and future acts of terrorism or the threat of such acts or escalation of U.S. military involvement overseas. 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 2004 Annual Report Form 10-K/A 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.
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