NEW YORK, March 20, 2007 (PRIME NEWSWIRE) -- JetBlue Airways (Nasdaq:JBLU) today announces the appointment of Alex Battaglia to Vice President, JetBlue JFK Airport, the low-fare airline's hometown airport, effective April 2, 2007. Mr. Battaglia comes to JetBlue following a 24-year career with Delta Air Lines in roles of increasing responsibility, culminating in the position of Director-JFK Operations.
"Alex is the perfect fit for JetBlue as we continue to grow our airline within North America," said Rob Maruster, JetBlue's senior vice president, Airports and Operational Planning. "Alex's experience in the airport environment, which ranges from customer service to leadership positions, will greatly serve JetBlue, our crewmembers, and our customers as we continue to focus on delivering great service, industry-leading comfort and low fares."
"JetBlue is a great airline and I'm honored to join the team," Mr. Battaglia said. "JetBlue's plans for the future at JFK, including the Terminal 5 project, which will be our new home in late 2008, point to an airline dedicated to growth, customer comfort and most importantly, personal service. I look forward to meeting our customers and crewmembers."
JetBlue is constructing a new terminal facility at John F. Kennedy International Airport that will support up to 250 daily flights from 26 gates. The new terminal will be linked to TWA's historic Eero Saarinen building at Terminal 5, and the project is expected to be complete by the end of 2008.
JetBlue Airways is focused on creating a new airline category -- an airline that offers value, service and style. Based in New York Cit y, and now in its eighth year, the low-cost carrier currently serves 50 destinations with more than 550 flights daily. JetBlue has the most legroom in coach (a) and is America's first and only airline to offer its own Customer Bill of Rights, with meaningful compensation for customers inconvenienced by flight delays or cancellations (b). In addition to its signature seatback personal television service (c), the low-fare, high-value airline 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). JetBlue service from Boston to Martha's Vineyard, Nantucket, Provincetown, and Hyannis, MA is operated by JetBlue's marketing partner, Cape Air. 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) JetBlue has the most legroom in coach, based on average fleet-wide seat pitch for U.S. airlines.
(b) For full details of JetBlue's Customer Bill of Rights, visit www.jetblue.com/promise.
(c) DIRECTV(r) service is not available on flights outside the continental United State s; 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 ability to operate reliably the EMBRAER 190 aircraft; 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 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 2006 Annual Report on Form 10-K. We undertake no obligation to update any forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances that may arise after the date of this release.