FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla., July 24, 2007 (PRIME NEWSWIRE) -- JetBlue Airways (Nasdaq:JBLU) continues to expand its Caribbean presence with the launch of nonstop service between Fort Lauderdale and Ponce, Puerto Rico beginning November 5. The award-winning low-fare, low-cost airline will operate one daily flight on the route year-round, providing South Florida with its only nonstop link to Ponce, on Puerto Rico's southern coast.
Introductory fares start as low as $59(a) each way, with regular fares ranging from $99 -- $299(a) each way. Ponce will be JetBlue's 12th destination served nonstop from Fort Lauderdale/Hollywood International Airport.
"Today we're thrilled to connect two of our most popular destinations with nonstop service," said Marty St. George, JetBlue's Vice President of Network Planning. "Customers have come to prefer JetBlue for our inflight entertainment, generous name-brand snacks, and award-winning customer service -- all for one low price. We invite you to experience our low fares and lots of frills on our first-ever service between Fort Lauderdale and the Caribbean."
"We want to thank JetBlue's great crewmembers for doing an exemplary job of turning the airline into one of Puerto Rico's favorite," said Terestella Gonzalez Denton, the Puerto Rico Tourism Company's Executive Director. "We would also like to acknowledge the executives who over the years have shared the same vision for new routes to the island, especially to our regional airports. This decision has greatly contributed to the Tourism Company's efforts to strengthen the Porta Caribe and Porta del Sol tourist areas, a strategy that continues to generate great results. Because of this, today, on behalf of all Puerto Ricans, we congratulate and thank our friends at JetBlue for sharing the same vision for our development."
JetBlue's new service between Fort Lauderdale and Ponce effective Nov. 5, 2007:
Fort Lauderdale, FL (FLL) Ponce, Puerto Rico (PSE)
to Ponce, Puerto Rico (PSE) to Fort Lauderdale, FL (FLL)
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Depart -- Arrive Depart -- Arrive
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11:55 p.m.-- 3:25 a.m. 4:35 a.m. -- 6:20 a.m.
(next day) (begins Nov. 6)
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--All times local--
Customers flying JetBlue between Fort Lauderdale and Ponce will travel in style aboard JetBlue's modern Airbus A320 fleet, which features a spacious cabin and all-leather seating as well as complimentary first-run movies and bonus features from FOX InFlight on JetBlue's signature seatback televisions.
From Fort Lauderdale, JetBlue also offers daily nonstop service to Boston; Long Beach, CA; Newark, NJ; Newburgh, NY; New York/JFK, New York/LaGuardia; Oakland, CA; Washington, DC/Dulles; and White Plains, NY. New service to Buffalo and Syracuse, NY begins November 1. From Ponce's Mercedita Airport, JetBlue flies daily to New York/JFK and Orlando, FL.
Customers enrolled in JetBlue's customer loyalty program, TrueBlue, will earn four TrueBlue points each way for nonstop flights between Fort Lauderdale and Ponce. Double TrueBlue points are awarded for travel purchased online at www.jetblue.com. Customers can earn TrueBlue points even faster by using the JetBlue Card from American Express. Every time cardholders purchase JetBlue travel with the Card, or earn at least one TrueBlue point through other purchasing using the Card, all TrueBlue points in the member's account automatically extend for another 12 months.
New York-based JetBlue Airways has created a new airline category based on value, service and style. Known for its award-winning service and free TV as much as its low fares, JetBlue is now pleased to offer customers the most legroom throughout coach (based on average fleet-wide seat pitch for U.S. airlines). JetBlue is also America's first and only airline to offer its own Customer Bill of Rights, with meaningful compensation for customers inconvenienced by service disruptions within JetBlue's control. Visit www.jetblue.com/promise for details. JetBlue serves 54 cities with up to 575 daily flights. 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.
JetBlue's 36 channels of DIRECTV(r) service are 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.
(a) All fares are subject to change without notice. Sale fare requires up to a 14-day advance purchase. Travel must be booked by August 8, 2007, 11:59 PM MT. Travel must take place between November 5, 2007 and December 10, 2007. Travel must be completed by December 10, 2007. Blackout dates are November 16-30, 2007. Sale fares may not be available on all days or on all flights. Sale fares are most often found on midweek travel dates. All fares must be purchased at time of reservation, and are one-way, nonrefundable, and nontransferable. Cancellations and changes can be made prior to scheduled departure for $45 at 1-800-JETBLUE or $35 at jetblue.com, with applicable fare adjustment. Cancellations are for a JetBlue travel credit only, which is valid for one year. If a reservation is not changed or canceled prior to scheduled departure, all money associated with the reservation is forfeited. Fares do not include Passenger Facility Charges of up to $9 each way, September 11th Security Fees of up to $5 each way and a Federal Segment Tax of $3.40 per domestic segment. A segment is a takeoff and landing. Puerto Rico fares also do not include a US departure tax of $15.10 each way. All taxes and fees must be paid at the time of purchase. JetBlue reserves the right to deny boarding to passengers without proper documentation. DIRECTV(r) service is not available on flights outside the continental US; however, where applicable FOX InFlight is offered complimentary on these routes. Other restrictions apply.
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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 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.