NEW YORK, Dec. 5, 2006 (PRIME NEWSWIRE) -- JetBlue Airways Corporation (NASDAQ:JBLU) reported today that its traffic in November increased 11.7 percent from November 2005, on a capacity increase of 13.2 percent.
Load factor for November 2006 was 80.8 percent, a decrease of 1.1 points from November 2005. JetBlue's preliminary completion factor was 99.7 percent and its on-time(1) performance was 70.2 percent. "Our progress this quarter continued in November, with passenger revenue per available seat mile, or PRASM, up approximately 23% over last year," said David Neeleman, CEO of JetBlue.
JETBLUE AIRWAYS TRAFFIC RESULTS
November 2006 November 2005 % Change
Revenue passenger
miles (000) 1,907,688 1,708,154 11.7
Available seat
miles (000) 2,359,862 2,084,661 13.2
Load factor 80.8% 81.9% (1.1) pts.
Revenue passengers 1,637,220 1,296,612 26.3
Departures 14,634 10,305 42.0
Average stage length 1,078 1,302 (17.2)
Y-T-D 2006 Y-T-D 2005 % Change
Revenue passenger
miles (000) 21,288,228 18,350,214 16.0
Available seat
miles (000) 26,035,911 21,470,777 21.3
Load factor 81.8% 85.5% (3.7) pts.
Revenue passengers 16,821,989 13,307,273 26.4
Departures 143,295 100,685 42.3
Average stage length 1,197 1,367 (12.4)
SOURCE: JetBlue Airways Corporation
(1) The U.S. Department of Transportation considers on-time arrivals to be those domestic flights arriving within 14 minutes of schedule.
In the six years since its launch, JetBlue Airways has focused on creating a new airline category -- an airline that offers value, service and style. Based out of New York City, the low-cost carrier currently serves 48 destinations with up to 470 flights daily. Onboard JetBlue, customers enjoy roomy leather seats and 36 channels of free DIRECTV(r) programming (a), the most live TV available on any airline. On flights longer than two hours, a selection of first-run movies and bonus features from FOX InFlight(tm) is also available. JetBlue offers customers generous brand name snacks and beverages, including freshly brewed Dunkin' Donuts(r) coffee, and delicious wines selected by the airline's Low Fare Sommelier, Josh Wesson from Best Cellars(r). On overnight flights from the West, the airline now offers Shut-Eye Service(tm), with a comfort kit designed exclusively for JetBlue by Bliss Spa and other special amenities including a "good morning" hot towel service. 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/?source=pr.
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(a) 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 is powered 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 integration of the EMBRAER 190 aircraft into our operations; 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; increases in maintenance costs, fuel prices, insurance costs and interest rates, our dependence on the New York 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 2005 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.