JetBlue unveils expansion plans in wake of general airline cutbacks
JetBlue is going against the grain of major airlines by adding routes and buying more user-friendly planes.
The airline announced a major service expansion.
The carrier says it will add 52 weekday departures between November and next April.
Some routes will be expanded ones between the airline’s base in New York, John F. Kennedy, and Boston Logan, including addition of 10 daily shuttle flights. JetBlue is also adding service to Richmond, Va., and Austin, Texas.
Travelers will find JetBlue offers more flights to smaller cities and warm weather areas.
Business travelers will see improved frequency for flights out of JFK.
The airline’s April schedule shows a nearly one-quarter increase in flying capacity.
At the same time, the airline has ordered the first of 101 Embraer 190 jets.
JetBlue until now relied exclusively on Airbus A-320s, but the Embraer planes will be flying the newer routes.
The Brazilian manufacturer of the Embraer 190 says the 100-seat planes are relatively roomy and do not have the claustrophobic feel of many regional jets.
The Embraer 190 has two-abreast seating on each side of the aisle and larger windows than many bigger jets.
JetBlue’s Embraer 190s have 25 rows of leather seats — each with 36 channels of free television and more than 100 satellite radio channels. The seats are a half inch wider than on the A320s.
“Fast-growing JetBlue’s plans typify the accelerating trend of discounters adding domestic service to the big hub-and-spoke carriers — United, US Airways, Northwest and Delta, for example — seek to shift flying capacity to more profitable international routes,” said USAToday.
“As the legacy carriers are shrinking their domestic service, it creates opportunities for low-cost carriers,” said Michael Allen of Back Aviation Solutions.
Report by David Wilkening
David
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