NEW YORK, Oct. 16, 2008 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Customer-friendly JetBlue Airways (Nasdaq:JBLU) today announces plans to expand its footprint in the Caribbean with new daily nonstop service from Orlando International Airport to Nassau and twice daily service from Fort Lauderdale Hollywood International Airport to Nassau. All flights will begin on February 1, 2009, pending receipt of government operating authority.
Nassau is JetBlue's first international destination from its focus city at Fort Lauderdale, where the airline will now offer as many as 49 flights per day to 16 top destinations, including its recent announcement of service to San Juan, Puerto Rico beginning December 18, 2008 as well as Austin, Texas; Boston; Buffalo, N.Y.; Charlotte, N.C.; Long Beach, Calif.; Newark, N.J.; Newburgh, N.Y.; New York/JFK, New York/LaGuardia; Raleigh, N.C.; Richmond, Va.; Syracuse, N.Y.; Washington, D.C./Dulles; and White Plains, N.Y.
Orlando, which became JetBlue's seventh focus city earlier this year, welcomes Nassau as its fourth international destination, along with existing service to Cancun, Mexico and Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic. New service to Bogota, Colombia, begins January 29, 2009, pending receipt of operating authority from the Colombian Government.
"Our customers have asked for high quality service from Florida to The Bahamas and JetBlue will continue to raise standards to a higher level with our friendly, award-winning service, free and unlimited snacks and refreshments, cozy leather seats with lots of legroom and abundant personal entertainment choices -- all included in the price of a JetBlue fare," said Scott Laurence, JetBlue's director of route planning. "Our customers know that when they choose JetBlue, they'll get more than just a seat from A to B. That's why they've made JetBlue Florida's carrier of choice."
"Our close proximity to the U.S. is just one of the many advantages which make the Islands of the Bahamas a preferred vacation destination. JetBlue's new nonstop jet service to Nassau Paradise Island from both Orlando and Fort Lauderdale will now make travel to the white sand beaches, crystal clear water and world famous resorts of our islands, even more convenient and affordable," said Fred Lounsberry, CEO of the Nassau Paradise Island Promotion Board.
JetBlue's new service between Fort Lauderdale and Nassau:
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Fort Lauderdale, FL (FLL) to Nassau (NAS) to
Nassau (NAS) Fort Lauderdale, FL (FLL)
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Depart - Arrive (Eff. Feb. 1, 2009) Depart - Arrive
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9:58 a.m. - 11:00 a.m. 2:10 p.m. - 3:17 p.m.
5:15 p.m. - 6:17 pm. 7:10 p.m. - 8:17 p.m.
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--All times local--
Aircraft: 100-seat EMBRAER E190
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JetBlue's new service between Orlando and Nassau:
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Orlando, FL (MCO) to Nassau (NAS) to
Nassau (NAS) Orlando, FL (MCO)
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Depart - Arrive (Eff. Feb. 1, 2009) Depart - Arrive
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12:02 p.m. - 1:20 p.m. 11:55 a.m. - 1:18 p.m.
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--All times local--
Aircraft: 100-seat EMBRAER E190
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JetBlue is operating its Florida to Nassau flights with its new EMBRAER 190 aircraft, a quiet, fuel-efficient, and full-size 100-seat jet that offers travelers all of JetBlue's signature amenities: personal seatback TVs with premium movie selections, more than 100 channels of XM Satellite Radio(r), plus comfy leather seats (either an aisle or window, with no middle seat!), lots of legroom, unlimited free snacks and JetBlue's acclaimed customer service.
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 Lots of Legroom and super-spacious Even More Legroom seats. JetBlue introduced complimentary in-flight e-mail and instant messaging services on aircraft "BetaBlue," a first among U.S. domestic airlines. 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 51 cities with 500 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.globenewswire.com/newsroom/prs/?pkgid=795
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 and our new terminal at JFK; 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 2007 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.