FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla., Aug. 22, 2007 (PRIME NEWSWIRE) -- JetBlue Airways (Nasdaq:JBLU) today continues to expand its South Florida focus city at Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport with the addition of nonstop service to three destinations: Charlotte, NC; Raleigh-Durham, NC; and Richmond, VA. The award-winning airline will operate one daily flight to each city for the winter season. Richmond service kicks off November 1, 2007, while Charlotte and Raleigh-Durham flights begin January 10, 2008. All service runs through April 30, 2008.
Introductory fares to/from Fort Lauderdale start as low as $69(a) each way and include JetBlue's signature 36 channels of DIRECTV(r) programming, more than 100 channels of XM Satellite Radio, the most legroom in coach, and all the snacks you can eat.
With today's announcement, JetBlue will offer daily nonstop flights to the following 15 top destinations from Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport this winter, including five airports in the New York City area:
* Boston, MA * Buffalo, NY * Charlotte, NC * LA/Long Beach, CA * Newark, NJ * Newburgh, NY * New York/JFK * New York/LaGuardia * Oakland, CA * Ponce, Puerto Rico * Raleigh-Durham, NC * Richmond, VA * Syracuse, NY * Washington, DC/Dulles * White Plains, NY
"It's been one year since we introduced the JetBlue Experience to Charlotte, Raleigh-Durham, and Richmond, and our customers in all three markets have given an enthusiastic reception to our low fares and our high quality service," said Marty St. George, JetBlue's Vice President of Network Planning. "We're thrilled to celebrate by adding nonstop service to sunny South Florida, one of our most popular destinations!"
"It is great that JetBlue is expanding service to more destinations," said Broward County Commissioner and Airport Liaison Stacy Ritter. "Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport is a customer-service airport and when airlines, such as JetBlue, increase their destinations, it provides more choices to Broward residents and travelers and a greater desirability for individuals to use our local airport as their preferred travel gateway."
"The Greater Richmond Chamber, on behalf of its 2,000 member firms, applauds JetBlue's announcement of new nonstop service from Richmond to Fort Lauderdale beginning November 1. Today, Fort Lauderdale is a top ten Richmond destination without direct service. The new JetBlue service will be well-received and strongly supported by business and leisure travelers from the Richmond Region," said James Dunn, President and CEO of the Greater Richmond Chamber of Commerce.
"RDU welcomes JetBlue's announcement of nonstop service to Fort Lauderdale," said John Brantley, airport director, Raleigh-Durham International Airport. "The new service offers RDU's customers a gateway to popular South Florida and more air travel opportunities, which our region will be eager to take advantage of."
"JetBlue's expanded service highlights the value of the Charlotte market and offers more flight choices for the Charlotte traveler," said Patrick McCrory, Mayor of the City of Charlotte.
JetBlue's new service between Charlotte and Fort Lauderdale: Charlotte, NC (CLT) to Fort Lauderdale, FL (FLL) to Fort Lauderdale, FL (FLL) Charlotte, NC (CLT) Depart - Arrive Depart - Arrive 9:45 a.m. - 11:50 a.m. 12:25 p.m. - 2:25 p.m. (eff. Jan. 10, 2007 - (eff. Jan. 10, 2007 - April 30, 2008) April 30, 2008) JetBlue's new service between Raleigh-Durham and Fort Lauderdale: Raleigh-Durham, NC (RDU) to Fort Lauderdale, FL (FLL) to Fort Lauderdale, FL (FLL) Raleigh-Durham, NC (RDU) Depart - Arrive Depart - Arrive 10:20 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. 1:05 p.m. - 3:20 p.m. (eff. Jan. 10, 2007 - (eff. Jan. 10, 2007 - April 30, 2008) April 30, 2008) JetBlue's new service between Richmond and Fort Lauderdale: Richmond, VA (RIC) to Fort Lauderdale, FL (FLL) to Fort Lauderdale, FL (FLL) Richmond, VA (RIC) Depart - Arrive Depart - Arrive 1:30 p.m. - 3:40 p.m. 4:15 p.m. - 6:25 p.m. (eff. Nov. 1, 2007 - (eff. Nov. 1, 2007 - April 30, 2008) April 30, 2008)
Customers flying JetBlue on these three new nonstop routes will travel in style and comfort aboard JetBlue's EMBRAER 190, a full-size 100-seat jet which features a spacious cabin with all-leather seats -- either window or aisle, with no middle seat! In addition to its new Florida service, JetBlue currently offers daily nonstop service from Charlotte, Raleigh-Durham, and Richmond to Boston and New York/JFK.
Customers enrolled in JetBlue's customer loyalty program, TrueBlue, will earn four TrueBlue points each way for nonstop flights between Fort Lauderdale and Charlotte, Raleigh-Durham, and Richmond. 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.
The JetBlue logo is available at http://www.primenewswire.com/newsroom/prs/?pkgid=795
(a) All fares are subject to change without notice. Fares require up to a 14-day advance purchase. Introductory fares must be purchased by August 31, 2007, 11:59PM MT. Introductory fare in Richmond - Fort Lauderdale is valid for travel between November 1, 2007 and December 13, 2007. Richmond-Fort Lauderdale travel must be completed by December 13, 2007. Blackout dates for Richmond-Fort Lauderdale travel are November 21-27, 2007. Introductory fare in Raleigh-Durham/Charlotte - Fort Lauderdale is valid for travel between January 10, 2008 and February 15, 2008. Raleigh-Durham/Charlotte - Fort Lauderdale travel must be completed by February 15, 2008. Lowest fares may not be available on all days or on all flights. Lowest 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. All taxes and fees must be paid at the time of purchase. JetBlue reserves the right to deny boarding to passengers without proper documentation. Other restrictions apply.
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 service is provided 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 and the effect of increased congestion in this 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.