Low-Fare Carrier's Expansion Continues March 8 With Nonstop Service
Between Orlando and Santo Domingo
One-Way Fares Start as Low as US$109 (a)
NEW YORK, Jan. 10, 2008 (PRIME NEWSWIRE) -- JetBlue Airways Corporation (Nasdaq:JBLU) today becomes Puerto Plata's first low-fare airline, and the only carrier to provide nonstop, daily year-round service to New York's John F. Kennedy Airport (JFK), with convenient connecting service to 12 other U.S. destinations. Beginning March 8, JetBlue begins daily nonstop service between Orlando and Santo Domingo. Regular fares between New York and Puerto Plata start as low as US$109 (a) each way.
Puerto Plata is JetBlue's third city served in the D.R. and the tenth Caribbean/Atlantic destination, including: Aruba; Bermuda; Cancun; Nassau; Aguadilla, Ponce and San Juan, Puerto Rico; and Santiago and Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic. On January 17, the airline will begin nonstop service from JFK to St. Maarten in the Netherlands Antilles.
"We're excited to be Puerto Plata's first low-fare carrier and the only airline to offer nonstop service to New York City," said Dave Barger, CEO of JetBlue Airways. "You bring the suntan lotion, swimsuit and flip-flops, and we'll bring the comfy leather seats, free snacks and movies and award-winning customer service, making the trip as enjoyable as the destination."
"We welcome JetBlue to Puerto Plata and invite customers to discover the Dominican North coast, the Caribbean's most complete vacation destination, featuring innumerable attractions, including world class golf, extreme sports, adventure tourism, and a tremendous diversity of accommodations and gastronomy," said Felix Jimenez, Dominican Republic Minister of Tourism.
"I wish to emphasize, among the many benefits of this new flight, the impact that it will have on tourism and real estate development in this province, the importance it will have for Puertoplatans living in the U.S. who can now have direct flights home, and the many opportunities for development of international trade between our North Coast and the United States, that will come as a result," said Cesar Jose de Los Santos, Governor, Province of Puerto Plata.
"We are pleased to announce with JetBlue, beginning today, the start of daily non-stop service between New York and Puerto Plata," said Astrid Diaz, CEO of Aerodom. "With this new route we reaffirm our commitment to increasing available air service to and from this city, based on the highest standards of quality and efficiency. Once again, we are grateful to JetBlue for the confidence placed in the airports we operate."
"On behalf of Aeropuertos Dominicanos Siglo XXI, Aerodom, we welcome you to Gregorio Luperon International Airport and invite you to discover Puerto Plata, a wonderful city that truly offers visitors the opportunity to experience the warmth of the Caribbean and its people," said Ted Foster, Director, Gregorio Luperon International Airport, Puerto Plata.
JetBlue now offers full vacation packages for Puerto Plata and 24 other JetBlue destinations. JetBlue Getaways customers book discounted vacation packages including airfare, hotel, airport transfers and/or various activities at one time, saving valuable time and money. Customers can book a JetBlue Getaways vacation package to Puerto Plata at www.jetblue.com or through the JetBlue Getaways desk by calling 1-800-JETBLUE (538-2583), option 3.
Customers flying JetBlue to/from Puerto Plata will travel in style aboard the airline's modern Airbus A320 fleet, which features all-leather seating and the most legroom in coach (based on average fleet-wide seat pitch for U.S. airlines), as well as complimentary first-run movies and bonus features from FOX InFlight on JetBlue's signature seatback televisions. Through its largest focus city at New York's JFK Airport, JetBlue also offers Caribbean travelers convenient connecting service to destinations across the airline's coast-to-coast route network.
JetBlue's new service between New York and Puerto Plata's Gregorio Luperon International Airport, with fares starting as low as US$109 (a) each way:
New York, NY (JFK) to Puerto Plata, Puerto Plata, Dominican Republic (POP) to Dominican Republic (POP) New York, NY (JFK) ------------------------------------------------------- Depart - Arrive Depart - Arrive ------------------------------------------------------- 10:30 a.m. - 3:20 p.m. 4:15 p.m. - 7:05 p.m. (all times local) (all times local) -------------------------------------------------------
Customers enrolled in JetBlue's customer loyalty program, TrueBlue, will earn six TrueBlue points each way for flights between New York and Puerto Plata. 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) and is the first U.S. domestic carrier to introduce complimentary in-flight e-mail and instant messaging services using an onboard wireless network. JetBlue is also America's first and only airline to offer its own Customer Bill of Rights, with meaningful and specific compensation for customers inconvenienced by service disruptions within JetBlue's control. Visit www.jetblue.com/promise for details. JetBlue serves 52 cities with 550 daily flights. New service to St. Maarten begins on January 17. 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) All fares are subject to change without notice. Fares are only available for flights booked at jetblue.com. Travel costs $10 more per person if purchased by telephone or at an airport or city ticket office. Fares require up to a 7-day advance purchase. Fares may not be available on all days or on all flights. 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 $50 at 1-800-JETBLUE (1-809-200-9898 if located in the Dominican Republic) or $40 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 $3.50 per domestic segment. A segment is a takeoff and landing. International fares also do not include government fees and taxes of up to $76.20 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. 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.
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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 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.