NEW YORK, May 11, 2005 (PRIMEZONE) -- JetBlue Airways (Nasdaq:JBLU) today announced it will serve Ponce, Puerto Rico, offering the first and only nonstop service from New York to the Puerto Rican airport.
Beginning June 17, JetBlue plans one daily nonstop flight between New York's John F. Kennedy International Airport and Ponce's Mercedita Airport. JetBlue, New York's hometown airline, will offer six daily nonstop flights between JFK and San Juan, and two daily nonstop flights to Aguadilla this summer.
With JetBlue's new service to Ponce, the low-fare carrier will be the only airline to serve three Puerto Rican cities nonstop from New York. JetBlue launched service to San Juan on May 31, 2002, and will observe its first anniversary of service to Aguadilla on May 27.
"I congratulate JetBlue on its new service to Ponce, Puerto Rico," Governor Pataki said. "This new service will provide a great, affordable way for millions of New Yorkers to visit home and welcome friends and families from Puerto Rico. In a short time, JetBlue has grown into a major player in the aviation industry by providing convenient, affordable transportation throughout New York State and to many other destinations. I want to thank JetBlue for helping to make New York's strong ties to Puerto Rico a little stronger."
"With JetBlue's extension of services to the south of Puerto Rico, it not only brings the benefit of more flights from and into the Island, but it also restores the productivity of the Ponce Mercedita airport," said Puerto Rico Governor Anibal Acevedo Vila. "There is no doubt that this action with serve as a strengthening piece to increase the passenger movement to Ponce and consequently, to the Island's south area. We welcome JetBlue to Ponce Puerto Rico and encourage it to keep looking for new alliances with our government sector to keep expanding your services in Puerto Rico. Today's announcement is compatible with the Development Plan of the Puerto Rico Tourism Company, with stands in two main strategies: the establishment of new domestic and international aerial routes and to put on the right road an additional 5,000 hotel rooms."
"We're committed to providing low-fare and high quality service to the beautiful island of Puerto Rico," said JetBlue's CEO David Neeleman. "We're excited about our new service to Ponce, the 'Pearl of the South,' and proud to be the only carrier serving San Juan, Aguadilla, and now Ponce, nonstop every day from JFK."
"JetBlue is adding to their already great service for New Yorkers by adding another city in Puerto Rico to its destinations," said New York Senator Chuck Schumer. "With this expanded service from JetBlue, the Puerto Rican community in New York can be brought even closer to their families in Ponce and vice versa."
"JetBlue's plan to increase service to Puerto Rico is fantastic news for New Yorkers. And their plan to add their third city in Puerto Rico -- Ponce -- as a direct destination from New York City, makes the news even better," said Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton in welcoming the news today. "Not only will JetBlue be providing another easy way for so many Puerto Rican New Yorkers to visit their families, but they are also making it easier for people to visit New York and conduct business, bringing the promise of more jobs and opportunities for everyone."
"We welcome and embrace JetBlue's plans to serve Ponce, Puerto Rico with daily nonstop service from New York," said Ponce Mayor Francisco Zayas Seijo. "I invite the 17 municipalities of the South of Puerto Rico to fully support JetBlue flights to New York."
"JetBlue's continued expansion with new service to Ponce will make travel to areas outside of San Juan even more accessible for our guests," said Terestella Gonzalez Denton, Executive Director of the Puerto Rico Tourism Company. "Direct flights to Ponce have been a priority of our air access program designed to attract new air service, especially to regional airports in Puerto Rico so that travelers will be able to easily experience everything the island has to offer."
"Besides having the opportunity to enjoy the sea and sun, JetBlue service will allow Ponce visitors to experience unique attractions, including art and history museums, Serralle's Castle, Coffin Island (Caja de Muerto) for scuba diving enthusiasts, and the beautiful state-of-the-art Ponce Hilton and Costa Caribe for golfers," said Rafael Molina, Director of the Ponce Tourism Office. "We welcome visitors to Ponce -- The Pearl of The Caribbean."
The low-fare airline will offer an introductory sale fare between JFK and Ponce of $99(a) one way. The sale fares must be purchased by May 31 for travel from June 17 through July 13, 2005. Seats are limited and customers are encouraged to book early.
The airline's regular one-way fares between JFK and Ponce will range from $124(a) to $299(a) each way when booked at www.jetblue.com or by calling 1-800-JETBLUE.
New York (JFK) to Ponce, PR (PSE) Ponce to New York
Depart -- Arrive Depart -- Arrive
12:45 am -- 4:40 am 9:00 am -- 12:55pm
(effective 6/17/05) (6/17/05 only)
5:40 am -- 9:35 am
(effective 6/18/05)
New York (JFK) to San Juan, PR (SJU) San Juan to New York
Depart -- Arrive Depart -- Arrive
7:00 am -- 10:50 am 2:10 am -- 5:55 am
9:00 am -- 12:45 pm 6:45 am -- 10:13 am
(effective 6/17/05)
10:30 am -- 2:15 pm 11:50 am -- 3:40 pm
(effective 5/25/05)
3:10 pm -- 6:55 pm 1:45 pm -- 5:35 pm
8:05 pm -- 11:55 pm 3:30 pm -- 7:20 pm
(effective 6/16/05) (effective 5/25/05)
9:25 pm -- 1:10 am (next day) 7:55 pm -- 11:40 pm
New York (JFK) to Aguadilla, PR (BQN) Aguadilla to New York
Depart -- Arrive Depart -- Arrive
12:50 am -- 4:30 am 6:00 am -- 9:45 am
6:00 am -- 9:40 am 10:35 am -- 2:20 pm
(effective 7/1/05) (effective 7/1/05)
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.(b)
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.
The JetBlue logo is available at: http://media.primezone.com/prs/single/?pkgid=795
(a) Domestic fares do not include Passenger Facility Charges of up to $9.00 each way, September 11th Security Fees of up to $5.00 each way and a Federal Segment Tax of $3.20 per segment. Bahamas, Puerto Rico and Dominican Republic fares do not include Passenger Facility Charges of up to $9.00 each way, U.S. Departure Tax of $14.10 each way and September 11th Security Fees of up to $5.00 each way. Bahamas fares also do not include U.S. APHIS and Immigration Fees of up to $10.10 and Bahamas Departure Taxes of up to $22. Dominican Republic fares also do not include U.S. APHIS and Immigration Fees of up to $11.95, Airport Authority and Infrastructure Fees of up to $22.45 each way and Airport Departure Tax of up to $20.00. Fares for travel originating from or purchased in the Dominican Republic will range from $133(a) to $335(a) each way.
(b) 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 on Form 10-K/A. We undertake no obligation to update any forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances that may arise after the date of this release.