SAO JOSE DOS CAMPOS, Brazil, Sept. 13, 2005 (PRIMEZONE) -- JetBlue Airways (Nasdaq:JBLU) today became the first airline to accept delivery of the EMBRAER 190 as it unveiled its first 100-seat aircraft from the Brazilian manufacturer. JetBlue has firm orders for 101 EMBRAER 190s with options for 100 more through 2016.
Photos accompanying this release are available at the following URLs:
http://www.primezone.com/newsroom/prs/?pkgid=1863
http://www.primezone.com/newsroom/prs/?pkgid=1864
http://www.primezone.com/newsroom/prs/?pkgid=1865
The low-fare carrier is scheduled to take delivery of eight EMBRAER 190s this year, and 18 in 2006. Scheduled service will begin in November 2005 to destinations within North America. Specific markets will be announced shortly. The 2005 deployment plan for the newest member of JetBlue's fleet will focus on cities already served by JetBlue's current fleet of Airbus 320 aircraft.
"Today is a day JetBlue customers and crewmembers have been looking forward to for years," said JetBlue's CEO David Neeleman. "As I look at this beautiful new aircraft I see many new opportunities to bring the JetBlue experience to communities all over North America. With all-leather seats (and each one a window or aisle), 100 channels of XM Satellite Radio, 36 channels of free DIRECTV, and FOX Premium Entertainment, I am confident this aircraft will turn heads everywhere it lands."
"In true JetBlue spirit, it's our crewmembers who have worked so hard to get us to today's unveiling ceremony," said JetBlue's president and COO Dave Barger. "Hundreds of dedicated JetBlue crewmembers have been working with our friends at Embraer for more than two years to ensure we're turning out an aircraft JetBlue customers will want to come back and enjoy again and again."
"Quality engineering and manufacturing, with a focus on economy, performance and comfort places our E-Jets in a class of their own -- one that opens new opportunities for operators to effectively meet demand for markets suitable for jets with seating capacity ranging from 70 to 110," said Frederico Curado, Embraer Executive Vice-President, Civil Aircraft. "JetBlue's move to expand their innovative product and low fares to more destinations using our EMBRAER 190 is solid evidence that our E-Jets are indeed capable to meet the increasingly challenging market needs."
Here are some facts about JetBlue's new EMBRAER 190:
-- Seating Capacity - 100 all-leather seats with 32"-33" pitch
-- In-flight Entertainment - 36 channels of free DIRECTV and
100 channels of XM Satellite Radio. FOX Inflight is available
on flights longer than two hours (see Note).
-- Aircraft Length - 118.9'
-- Wingspan - 94.25'
-- Range - 2,100 nautical miles
-- Engines - GE CF34-10E6
JetBlue is a low-fare, low-cost passenger airline, which provides high-quality customer service. JetBlue operates a fleet of 81 new Airbus A320 aircraft and plans to add four additional A320s and eight EMBRAER 190s to its fleet in 2005. Based at New York City's John F. Kennedy International Airport, JetBlue currently operates 286 flights a day and serves 32 destinations in 13 states, Puerto Rico, the Dominican Republic and The Bahamas. JetBlue plans to start daily nonstop service from Newark, NJ to Fort Lauderdale and Orlando on October 5, 2005, to West Palm Beach, Tampa and Fort Myers on October 19, 2005, and to San Juan, PR on November 17, 2005.
All JetBlue aircraft feature roomy leather seats; all equipped with an in-seat digital entertainment system offering 36 channels of free DIRECTV(r) programming -- no other airline offers more live satellite TV options. On flights longer than two hours, a selection of first-run movies and bonus features from FOX InFlight is also available (see Note).
With JetBlue, all seats are assigned, all travel is ticketless, all fares are one-way, and an overnight stay is never required. For more information, schedules and fares, please visit www.jetblue.com or call JetBlue reservations at 1-800-JETBLUE (538-2583), 1-888-538-2583 if calling from Puerto Rico, or 1-200-9898 if calling from the Dominican Republic. This press release, as well as past press releases, can be found on www.jetblue.com.
The photos are also available at NewsCom, www.newscom.com, and via AP Photo Express.
Note: DIRECTV(r) service is not available on flights between JFK or Newark and Puerto Rico or the Dominican Republic; however, FOX InFlight is offered complimentary on these routes.
The JetBlue logo is available at: http://media.primezone.com/prs/single/?pkgid=795
