NEW YORK, Jan. 5, 2007 (PRIME NEWSWIRE) -- JetBlue Airways Corporation (Nasdaq:JBLU) reported today that its traffic in December increased 9.8 percent from December 2005, on a capacity increase of 14.6 percent.
Load factor for December 2006 was 79.4 percent, a decrease of 3.5 points from December 2005. JetBlue's preliminary completion factor was 99.6 percent and its on-time(1) performance was 64.7 percent. "We were pleased to see that our preliminary PRASM for the month of December increased 22% year over year," said David Neeleman, CEO of JetBlue.
JETBLUE AIRWAYS TRAFFIC RESULTS
December 2006 December 2005 % Change
Revenue passenger
miles (000) 2,031,593 1,849,843 9.8
Available seat
miles (000) 2,558,049 2,232,317 14.6
Load factor 79.4% 82.9% (3.5) pts.
Revenue passengers 1,742,574 1,421,793 22.6
Departures 15,857 11,324 40.0
Average stage length 1,079 1,273 (15.2)
Y-T-D 2006 Y-T-D 2005 % Change
Revenue passenger
miles (000) 23,319,821 20,200,057 15.4
Available seat
miles (000) 28,593,960 23,703,094 20.6
Load factor 81.6% 85.2% (3.6) pts.
Revenue passengers 18,564,563 14,729,066 26.0
Departures 159,152 112,009 42.1
Average stage length 1,186 1,358 (12.7)
SOURCE: JetBlue Airways Corporation
(1) The U.S. Department of Transportation considers on-time arrivals to be those domestic flights arriving within 14 minutes of schedule.
JetBlue Airways is focused on creating a new airline category -- an airline that offers value, service and style. Based out of New York City, and entering its seventh year, the low-cost carrier currently serves 50 destinations with up to 500 flights daily. Onboard JetBlue, customers enjoy roomy leather seats with industry-leading legroom on the A320 aircraft, and no middle seats on the E190 aircraft. Customers also enjoy 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.
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(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.
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; 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 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 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.