JetBlue Celebrates 20th Birthday, 20 Years of Award-Winning Customer Service and Low Fares
February 11 2020 - 10:00AM
Business Wire
JetBlue Launches ‘20 Years Just Flew By’ Fare
Sale With Seats Starting As Low As $20 One Way in Select
Markets
JetBlue (NASDAQ: JBLU) today marked its 20th birthday,
commemorating its first revenue flight between New York and Fort
Lauderdale on February 11, 2000. Twenty years, 470 million
customers, and 102 million bags of Terra Blue chips later, JetBlue
continues to inspire humanity by combining great service with low
fares for customers.
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JetBlue today marked its 20th birthday,
commemorating its first revenue flight between New York and Fort
Lauderdale on February 11, 2000. (Photo: Business Wire)
“No one believed that a start-up airline in 2000 could survive
20 months, much less 20 years,” said Robin Hayes, chief executive
officer, JetBlue. “But JetBlue proved that taking care of people
and bringing low fares to the market could not only be a viable
business model but could also completely disrupt an industry.
Others have tried to imitate JetBlue but no one has ever
successfully copied our 23,000 crewmembers and the incredible
culture that they’ve built.”
Over two decades, JetBlue established itself as a leader in both
value and comfort. With an initial pledge to bring humanity back to
air travel, today JetBlue is bringing that same human touch and
innovative spirit across the travel industry through the airline
and its two subsidiaries – JetBlue Travel Products and JetBlue
Technology Ventures. JetBlue has maintained its onboard advantage,
with the most legroom in coach (a), complimentary high-speed Fly-Fi
broadband on every aircraft (b), free seatback entertainment at
every seat, free snacks and soft drinks, and hospitality-trained
crewmembers offering award-winning service.
‘20 Years Just Flew By’ Sale & Celebrations
JetBlue is planning a year-long celebration with its crewmembers
and customers as it embarks on its third decade.
The airline is kicking off its “20 Years Just Flew By” fare sale
with seats available now starting as low as $20 one-way in select
markets (c). Visit jetblue.com to check availability and book.
Customers traveling on JetBlue flight #1 today from New York-JFK
to Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport (FLL) were
treated to breakfast treats and surprise gate-side giveaways at
JetBlue’s home at Terminal 5 at JFK. JetBlue’s very first revenue
flight operated the New York to Florida route as flight #1 on
February 11, 2000.
This morning, Joanna Geraghty, president and chief operating
officer, joined founding JetBlue crewmembers to mark the airline’s
milestone by ringing the opening bell at Nasdaq in Times Square.
JetBlue is proud to be New York’s Hometown Airline and remains
committed to New York City and the entire Empire State.
Saving Customers $12 Billion … And Counting
With its everyday low fares and market-stimulating growth,
JetBlue estimates it has saved customers over $12 billion that
would otherwise have gone to the four large airlines that hold vast
pricing power in the airports they dominate.
“JetBlue’s role in the industry is more important than ever,”
Hayes said. “As the large airlines have consolidated and grown more
powerful, and the ultra-low-cost carriers ushered in the no-frills
flying, customers are turning to JetBlue for our high-quality
service and affordable fares – definitely a unique combination in
the industry today.”
Its low fares have stimulated demand in underutilized airports
from New York to Boston to Fort Lauderdale to Long Beach and across
the Caribbean. JetBlue launched operations at John F. Kennedy
International Airport – which in 2000 served just 32 million
travelers and was ripe for growth. By 2018, more than 61 million
travelers passed through JFK thanks to JetBlue and the market
stimulation of “the JetBlue effect.”
With a long list of industry-shaping innovations and firsts,
JetBlue’s remarkable success and stamp on the travel landscape
cannot be ignored:
- From serving routes between the northeast and Florida with a
handful of aircraft in 2000, JetBlue has become a globally loved
brand with service to nearly 100 destinations across almost 25
countries across the U.S., Caribbean and Latin America with plans
to expand to Europe in 2021.
- From its sole focus on New York, JetBlue has spread its
geographic footprint and is now a leading carrier in six focus
cities: Boston; Los Angeles/Long Beach; New York; Orlando and Fort
Lauderdale, Florida; and San Juan, Puerto Rico.
- With initial operations at JFK’s Terminal 6, JetBlue built and
relocated to the new Terminal 5 in 2008, recognized by Frommer’s as
one of the world’s most beautiful airport terminals. Since its
opening, T5 has offered an amazing ground experience to complement
JetBlue’s award-winning onboard experience.
- In 2014, JetBlue took a step forward from its single cabin
roots, introducing its Mint premium experience to transcontinental
travel, completely disrupting a category for travel that had been
stagnant for years.
- JetBlue was the first U.S. airline to introduce a Customer Bill
of Rights as a commitment to take care of customers with
transparent and consistent compensation when things do not go as
planned.
- JetBlue launched the industry’s most customer-friendly loyalty
program – TrueBlue – which rewards all customers, regardless of
their travel frequency. With TrueBlue, there are no blackout dates
with all seats available for redemption, and points never
expire.
- JetBlue’s founders believed that people would be the key to
success, and JetBlue has invested in its people with an unmatched
orientation and training campus, JetBlue University, in
Orlando.
- With its innovative JetBlue Scholars program, crewmembers have
earned a total of 250 college degrees since launching in 2016.
JetBlue is now expanding the successful program to include master’s
degrees.
- With a mission to inspire humanity, supporting its communities
has been a priority for JetBlue and its crewmembers. In 2019,
JetBlue Crewmembers reached an incredible milestone, volunteering
one million hours of service over the past eight years since the
airline started tracking volunteer hours.
- JetBlue was the first major U.S. airline to announce that it
will offset carbon dioxide emissions (CO2) from jet fuel for all
domestic flights beginning in July 2020. JetBlue also announced
plans to start flying with sustainable aviation fuel in mid-2020 on
flights from San Francisco International Airport.
- JetBlue launched the industry-leading Gateway Select program,
the first of its kind competency-based pilot training program,
giving participants the opportunity to become JetBlue pilots after
completing a rigorous four-year training program that incorporates
classroom learning, extensive real-world flying experience and
instruction in full-flight simulators. The highly selective program
is designed specifically for candidates without previous aviation
training who demonstrate the most desired qualities in a
pilot.
- With JetBlue Technology Ventures, JetBlue was the first to
launch a corporate venture capital subsidiary in Silicon Valley
backed by a U.S. airline. JetBlue Technology Ventures invests in,
incubates and partners with early stage startups at the
intersection of technology, travel and hospitality, and several
start-ups identified have already been incorporated in JetBlue’s
operation.
- JetBlue was the first airline to launch a foundation – the
JetBlue Foundation – focused solely on supporting aviation and STEM
education.
Beyond the 20th in 2020
JetBlue’s 20th birthday comes as it sets itself up for the next
20 years. With investments in the future of travel through its two
subsidiaries – JetBlue Travel Products and JetBlue Technology
Ventures – the company is bringing innovative products and services
to the market inspired by the same mission that made the airline a
beloved brand. Perhaps best known for bringing live TV to the skies
in 2000, the airline also continues to raise the bar with a refresh
of its fleet, new technology, and customer-friendly offerings that
make its onboard experience the best of any U.S. airline:
- This month JetBlue takes delivery of its seventh Airbus A321neo
aircraft, the newest aircraft type to join the fleet. The
state-of-the-art aircraft features increased fuel efficiency,
extended range and the very best in customer comfort.
- Later this year, another new aircraft type will join the
JetBlue fleet with delivery of its first Airbus A220-300. The
A220’s spacious and comfortable cabin makes it the perfect fit for
JetBlue as a replacement for the Embraer 190. The A220’s range and
seating capacity will add flexibility to JetBlue’s network and open
the door to new markets and routes.
- Later this year JetBlue will also announce details regarding
transatlantic service with flights to London set to launch in 2021.
Growth into Europe is the next natural step in JetBlue’s focus city
strategy, with London being the largest destination not served by
JetBlue from both New York and Boston. As part of its transatlantic
plans, JetBlue is developing a reimagined version of its Mint
experience.
- With the restyling of the Airbus A320 – the backbone of
JetBlue’s fleet – JetBlue is introducing a new era of comfort and
connectivity to travelers, bringing to the skies the widest seats
available for this aircraft.
In 2000, its DIRECTV® offering had 24 channels and a five-inch
screen. Today, aircraft with the future JetBlue experience offer
customers 100+ channels of live television and hundreds of free
movies and shows, larger high-definition touch-screen displays, a
personalized experience, expanded coverage of free Fly-Fi®
broadband connectivity almost everywhere JetBlue flies, the ability
to pair a mobile phone for the remote, and much more.
In January, JetBlue Travel Products, relaunched JetBlue
Vacations, adding new benefits focused on giving customers the
convenience and personalized service often missing from bundled
vacation packages. New additions to the JetBlue Vacations portfolio
include the Very Important Perks (VIP) and the Insider Experience
programs, which infuse humanity into every step of the travel
experience. Packages now also include additional benefits such as
no JetBlue change fees, earlier boarding on flights, a free
inflight alcoholic drink, and access to 24/7 support.
About JetBlue Airways
JetBlue is New York's Hometown Airline®, and a leading carrier
in Boston, Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood, Los Angeles (Long Beach),
Orlando, and San Juan. JetBlue carries more than 42 million
customers a year to nearly 100 cities in the U.S., Caribbean, and
Latin America with an average of more than 1,000 daily flights. For
more information, please visit jetblue.com.
- JetBlue offers the most legroom in coach based on average
fleet-wide seat pitch for U.S. airlines.
- Fly-Fi and live television are available on all
JetBlue-operated flights. On ViaSat-2 equipped aircraft, Fly-Fi
will not be available on portions of some routes, and live
television will not be available while operating outside of the
contiguous U.S., or until the aircraft returns to the coverage
area. On all other aircraft, Fly-Fi and live television will not be
available while operating outside of the contiguous U.S., or until
the aircraft returns to the coverage area.
- Lowest available fare (Blue Basic, otherwise Blue) only on
sale. Fares include government taxes and fees and must be purchased
by 2/12/20 (the earlier of 11:59 PM ET or local) for flights
between 2/19–6/17 (Blackout dates: 3/18–3/31, 4/14–4/21. Tue &
Wed travel. Limited exceptions apply: see information on all routes
on sale. $25 fee per person applies to fares purchased by phone.
For flights to Cuba: Fares include government taxes, fees and Cuban
government required health insurance. View terms and conditions of
the health insurance coverage provided. Each customer from the
United States of America must comply with regulations administered
by the United States Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) and is
solely responsible for ensuring that his or her trip is authorized
under at least one of the OFAC approved license categories and for
obtaining any applicable visa. JetBlue is not responsible for a
customer’s failure to present or provide adequate travel
documentation required. View additional Cuba flight information.
All fares are subject to limited availability; may not be available
on all days or all flights; may change without notice; must be
purchased at time of reservation; and are one-way, nonstop (except
as otherwise noted), nonrefundable, and nontransferable. Fares not
available for purchase via Online Travel Agencies Orbitz,
Travelocity, Expedia, Hotwire, CheapTickets, LowestFare or
Priceline. Taxes and fees apply to Award Flights, are the
responsibility of the customer, and will vary based on your
departure and destination cities. The amount of taxes and fees
required for an Award Flight is listed next to the applicable point
requirement and is subject to change as required by law. View
details on government taxes and fees. Award Flight fares are
one-way (unless otherwise indicated) and nonstop; point requirement
and gov. taxes/carrier fees may be higher for roundtrip flights,
for flights from destination city to origin city or for connecting
itineraries. Proper documentation required for boarding. Checked
Baggage Allowance/Fees: For Blue/Blue Basic/Blue Extra fares,
first checked bag is $35 and second bag is $45. For Blue Plus,
first checked bag is included and second bag is $45. Additional
Baggage Terms (all fares): Additional bags (over two) are $150
each. Weight and size limits and exceptions for itineraries
including flights operated or marketed by other airlines also
apply. Fares do not include fees for oversized, overweight or extra
baggage or other fees for products/services sold separately. View
baggage fees and other optional services and fees.
Change/Cancellation Fees: All reservations made one week or
more prior to a flight's departure may be cancelled without penalty
up to 24 hours after the reservation is made. Blue Basic:
Fare is forfeited, however any extras purchased will be refunded if
canceled in advance. Blue/Blue Plus: For fares under $100,
$75 per person plus difference in fare; for fares between $100 and
$149.99, $100 per person plus difference in fare; for fares between
$150 - $199.99, $150 per person plus difference in fare; for fares
over $200, $200 plus difference in fare. Blue Extra:
Difference in fare only. Mint: $200 plus difference in fare.
View Change/Cancel fees information. Additional
Change/Cancellation Terms (all fares): For changes, there may
be a fare adjustment. Cancellations receive JetBlue travel credit,
valid for one year. Changes/cancellations must be made prior to
scheduled departure (otherwise all money for fare is forfeited).
Flight terms and conditions apply.
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JetBlue Corporate Communications Tel: +1.718.709.3089
corpcomm@jetblue.com
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