NEW YORK, April 12, 2007 (PRIME NEWSWIRE) -- JetBlue Airways (Nasdaq:JBLU) today announces the appointment of Jim Hnat to the position of Corporate Secretary and Executive Vice President, Corporate Affairs, and the streamlining of the company's reporting structure.
Mr. Hnat joined JetBlue Airways in June 2001, and was named General Counsel in February 2003. Mr. Hnat retains the responsibilities of General Counsel and will now lead JetBlue's Corporate Affairs, which includes: Corporate Communications; Government Affairs; Internal Audit and Compliance; People; and Legal. Mr. Hnat has also been appointed the company's Corporate Secretary.
"Jim has brought excellent leadership to our airline and he has played an integral part in the development and growth of the company," said David Neeleman, JetBlue's Founder and CEO. "His guidance and strategic thinking in this position will play a key role in the future success of JetBlue."
Streamlined Reporting Structure
In addition to the Corporate Affairs team, the following leaders will report to the Office of the Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Neeleman and Dave Barger, President:
Russ Chew, who joined the airline March 2007 as Chief Operating Officer, is responsible for the airline's operational strategy and execution. The following teams report to Mr. Chew: Airports; Crew Services; Flight Operations; Inflight; JetBlue U, the airline's learning organization; Operational Planning; Safety; Security; System Operations; and Technical Operations.
John Harvey joined JetBlue in 1999 as Treasurer and was named Chief Financial Officer in May 2006. In addition to his duties as CFO, Mr. Harvey has been named Executive Vice President-Corporate Services. The following teams report to Mr. Harvey: Aircraft Programs & Treasury; Corporate Real Estate; Finance (Accounting and Financial Planning & Analysis); Information Technology; Investor Relations; and Supply Chain & Fuel.
Trey Urbahn, who joined the airline November 2006 as Chief Revenue Officer, is responsible for the airline's product development and sales. The following teams report to Mr. Urbahn: Business Development; Marketing; Network Planning; Reservations; Revenue Management; and Sales.
JetBlue Airways has created a new airline category based on value, service and style. Based in New York City, and now in its eighth year, the low-cost carrier currently serves 51 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 between Boston and 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.
(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, please
visit www.jetblue.com/promise.
(c) 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.primenewswire.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 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.