Airlines

JetBlue - airline information

General information

Founded in 1998, this carrier is a hybrid low-cost airline.

It offers higher comfort to its clients than most other low cost airlines. On JetBlue, everyone gets free snacks, sits on a leather seat and has a video screen in front of him.

The company primarily operates from New York's JFK International Airport, but has created secondary hubs in Boston, Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood (Florida), Auckland, Washington, Oakland.

Initially, JetBlue was known as NewAir, then it has changed its name when it has re-launched itself.

Today, JetBlue is one of the most well-known low cost airlines in the World.

Fact sheet

Destinations

JetBlue serves 6 countries. Their airplanes serve primarily eastern US routes and popular Caribbean vacation destinations.

With the purchase of over 160 aircraft, the airline plans to enter into new markets, possibly also abroad, not just in the USA.

Fleet

Contrary to most US airlines, JetBlue don't have a single Boeing in its fleet.

The company has acquired Airbus A320s and Brazilian Embraer ERJ-190s. Further orders have been placed for these planes.

JetBlue is the first airline to operate the ERJ-190s. Over 100 of these will fly the skies of the USA. Embraer is a Brazilian aircraft manufacturer that builds much cheaper airplanes than the giants Boeing or Airbus. Especially low cost airlines (for instance FlyBe in Europe) have shown interest in buying such machines.

Frequent flyer program

The airline also has a frequent flyer program called trueBlue Gratitude. This way, even those travelers who have low budgets and choose low fare flights from JetBlue can obtain bonuses.

Activity & market position

JetBlue is strongly present in the northeastern USA and on the east coast. So far, few flights head westwards, where other low cost carriers, such as SouthWest Airlines dominate the skies.

JetBlue used to fly to Atlanta (which is one of the biggest airports in the World) and the Dominican Republic, but it pulled out of both places. According to the company officials, it was due to low market demand that JetBlue has pulled out.

Being hybrid earns JetBlue a good reputation. The airline offers free in-flight meals, excellent in-flight entertainment, comfortable seats on airplanes.

JetBlue encourages travelers to use the "call button" on flights in order to be served whenever they need it. Food is free on JetBlue, unlike on most other similar carriers.

JetBlue has always had good slogans, one of which is "Sincerely JetBlue", used at the end of their letter ads.

JetBlue's acquisitions

Today most major airlines survive by buying the smaller ones or complementary service-providing companies in order to extend their array of services. Just like the big fish eat the small ones, airlines tend to "feed on" smaller airlines.

But, JetBlue, instead of buying its rivals has oriented rather towards the second variant mentioned: it has recently purchased a TV-service provider (surprisingly to most of us). Read below for further details...

LiveTV

The company was acquired for 41 million dollars and it now equips JetBlue with over 100 channels of live DirectTV satellite TV programs. Every passenger has a high-quality screen in front of him where he/she can watch TV live during flight.

The flight entertainment is incredibly diverse, FoxTV programs, various other satellite channels and 20th Century Fox Movies are available to travelers.

Though, not all planes offer the same in-flight entertainment. On some flights, especially on international ones, the traveler has access to only a few of the programs mentioned above. 

JetBlue is a dynamic airline that is always open for new opportunities.

The company could flourish even more if it would extend towards the west, gaining strong presence especially on the West coast. JetBlue could possibly make acquisitions of smaller regional carriers to easier penetrate the new markets.

Current activity and perspectives for the future

Possible expansion westwards  

With the introduction of 164 aircraft, the JetBlue fleet will more than double.

The company is probably planning to extend further into the western part of the United States, where it'll face stiff competition from the giant low cost carrier, SouthWest.

JetBlue strengthens its position on important existing markets

The airline has announced in late 2006 that it would start operating from New York's Stewart International Airport located near Newark, New Jersey.

More daily flights are expected to be introduced on routes to and from New York.

 Last modified/updated: March 26, 2007