NEW YORK, Oct. 17, 2006 (PRIMEZONE) -- JetBlue Airways (Nasdaq:JBLU) today celebrated the "topping out" of the low-fare airline's new home at John F. Kennedy International Airport's Terminal 5. The final steel beam of the project's frame was ceremonially signed by construction workers and hoisted into place.
A photo accompanying this release is available at http://www.primezone.com/newsroom/prs/?pkgid=2949
Construction of JetBlue's 26-gate facility began in December 2005. The state-of-the-art, customer-friendly JetBlue terminal is scheduled to open in early 2009 and will enable the low-cost airline to operate up to 250 daily flights from Terminal 5 at JFK.
"This is an exciting milestone in the construction of our new home at JFK, and on behalf of JetBlue's 11,000 crewmembers, I sincerely thank Turner Construction; the design team of Gensler, DMJM Harris and Arup; our many contractors; and the hundreds of construction workers for their professionalism in bringing the project to this stage -- on-time and on-budget," said Dave Barger, President & Chief Operating Officer of JetBlue Airways. "The new Terminal 5 will be a modern and efficient space that will complement JetBlue's mission to provide comfortable, friendly travel and low fares. As New York's hometown airline, we look forward to the day that many of our customers' journeys will begin at Terminal 5."
Highlights of the Terminal 5 project include:
-- $740 million budget; approximately $80 million funded by JetBlue
-- Three-year project
-- New 635,000 square-foot terminal designed around the customer's
airport experience
-- 26 gates capable of up to 250 daily flights
-- Capacity for 20 million customers per year
-- Connection to the historic Eero Saarinen terminal, commonly
referred to as the "TWA" terminal
-- A 1,500-space parking garage
-- A 30-year lease with the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey
Turner Construction is managing construction of the Terminal 5 project. Additional members of the JetBlue project team include Arup (planner and design manager), Gensler (terminal architects) and DMJM Harris (airside/landside civil engineers).
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 47 destinations with up to 470 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(r) coffee, and delicious wines selected by the airline's Low Fare Sommelier, Josh Wesson from Best Cellars(r). On overnight flights from the West, the airline now offers Shut-Eye Service(tm), with a comfort kit designed exclusively for JetBlue by Bliss Spa and other special amenities including a "good morning" hot towel service. 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 outside the continental United States; however, where applicable FOX InFlight(tm) is offered complimentary on these routes. FOX InFlight(tm) is a trademark of Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation. JetBlue's in-flight entertainment is powered by LiveTV, a wholly owned subsidiary of JetBlue.
The JetBlue logo is available at http://www.primezone.com/newsroom/prs/?pkgid=795
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 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; our reliance on automated systems and technology; 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 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.
