NEW YORK, March 14, 2006 (PRIMEZONE) -- JetBlue Airways (Nasdaq:JBLU) today announces a new leadership structure for the low-fare airline's Legal, Corporate Finance and Government Affairs Departments, designed to meet the low-fare airline's needs as the company grows.
"Attracting the best talent to our airline is vitally important, both for our customer-facing crewmembers as well as our support teams," said David Neeleman, JetBlue's Chairman and CEO. "Since we started service in 2000, JetBlue's growth and success has been guided by our excellent support teams in our Legal, Corporate Finance and Government Affairs areas, and as we prepare for a new era of growth, we have taken the necessary action to ensure our future success."
Jim Hnat, JetBlue's General Counsel, has been appointed Senior Vice President, continuing to report to Tom Kelly, Executive Vice President. As head of the Legal Department, Mr. Hnat works with the team of JetBlue attorneys to support all of JetBlue's work groups and crewmembers to ensure JetBlue successfully navigates business opportunities, while preserving the integrity of JetBlue's transactions. Since joining JetBlue in June 2001 as Associate General Counsel, and then as Vice President, General Counsel and Assistant Secretary, Mr. Hnat's leadership has been and will continue to be instrumental to JetBlue's growth and success.
Joanna Geraghty has been appointed Vice President, Associate General Counsel, and will continue to report to Jim Hnat. Ms. Geraghty joined JetBlue in March 2005, as Director, Litigation and Regulatory Counsel, after serving as JetBlue's external legal counsel as a partner with the firm Holland & Knight. In this expanded role, Ms. Geraghty will oversee JetBlue's broad range of legal, privacy, regulatory and business matters, working with leaders in Operations, Marketing and Planning as JetBlue grows.
John Harvey has been appointed Senior Vice President, Corporate Finance and Treasurer, continuing to report to Tom Kelly, with responsibility for company-wide financing, as well as risk management, which includes insurance and fuel hedging; treasury; and credit card services. JetBlue has also created a new position of Vice President, Fuel, with responsibility for JetBlue's fuel procurement, distribution and logistics strategy. This position will report to Mr. Harvey.
Rob Land has been appointed Senior Vice President, Government Affairs and Associate General Counsel, continuing to report to Tom Kelly. Mr. Land, a founding Crewmember, is responsible for JetBlue's relationship with the executive and legislative branches of the U.S. government, as well as state and local governing bodies. He also shares primary legal responsibility for regulatory matters. Mr. Land will continue to play a key role as JetBlue grows, helping JetBlue secure the necessary support from political leadership in the communities JetBlue serves.
In the six years since its launch, JetBlue Airways has focused on creating a new airline category -- an airline that offers value, service and style. Based out of New York City, the low-cost carrier currently serves 34 destinations with more than 410 flights daily. Onboard JetBlue, customers enjoy roomy leather seats and 36 channels of free DIRECTV(r) programming (a), the most live TV available on any airline. On flights longer than two hours, a selection of first-run movies and bonus features from FOX InFlight(tm) is also available. JetBlue offers customers generous brand name snacks and beverages, including freshly brewed Dunkin' Donuts coffee, and delicious wines selected by the airline's Low Fare Sommelier, Josh Wesson from Best Cellars. 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.
(a) DIRECTV(r) service is not available on flights to/from Bermuda, Puerto Rico or the Dominican Republic; however, where applicable FOX InFlight is offered complimentary on these routes. FOX InFlight is a trademark of Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation. JetBlue's in-flight entertainment is powered by LiveTV, a wholly owned subsidiary of JetBlue.
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 integration of the EMBRAER 190 aircraft into our operations, our significant fixed obligations, our ability to maintain our culture as we grow, our reliance on high daily aircraft utilization, our dependence on the New York metropolitan market, our reliance on automated systems and technology, our reliance on sole suppliers, additional government regulation and changes in our industry due to financial condition and external geopolitical conditions. 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 2005 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.
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