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February 5, 2008 |
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JETBLUE AIRWAYS: Signs Strategic Deal with Aer Lingus JetBlue Airways Corporation and Aer Lingus, Ireland's low-fares counterpart, have officially entered into a strategic partnership that will come into effect on April 3, 2008. The innovative partnership will enable Irish and U.S. customers to book a single low fare reservation between Ireland and more than 40 continental U.S. destinations, connecting through JetBlue's home base at New York's John F. Kennedy International Airport. Upon arrival to JFK and after customs clearance, Aer Lingus customers connecting to a domestic JetBlue flight can conveniently check-in and drop their bags at Aer Lingus' transfer desk in the arrivals lobby at Terminal 4. Once complete, customers can travel via the AirTrain to JetBlue's Terminal 6 for their domestic connection. Customers traveling from the U.S. to Ireland will be able to check their bags at their JetBlue domestic destination and will pick them up again in Dublin or Shannon. "Our partnership with Aer Lingus is a perfect fit with our brand and culture, and we are thrilled to extend our route network to a vibrant new stream of customers from Ireland," said Dave Barger, Chief Executive Officer of JetBlue Airways. Mr. Barger added, "On JetBlue, Customers enjoy their vacation beginning with the JetBlue Experience -- free, live TV at every seat, complimentary name brand snacks and comfy leather seats with the most legroom of any other airline in coach. And did I mention our award-winning customer service?" Commenting, Dermot Mannion, Aer Lingus CEO, said, "With a strong customer base, brand strength and position in the U.S. market, JetBlue is a natural partner for Aer Lingus. We are proud to be pioneering the model of linking low fare networks and offering Aer Lingus customers to easily connect across the U.S. through JetBlue's Terminal 6 at JFK. The partnership will also expose millions of U.S. passengers to the Aer Lingus website and brand and further consolidate aerlingus.com as the premier way to book flights to Ireland from North America." Domestic service will be operated by JetBlue's fleet of Airbus A320 and EMBRAER E190 aircraft. Both aircraft feature comfy leather seats equipped with personal seatback TVs that offer JetBlue's signature in-flight entertainment: 36 channels of free, live DIRECTV programming. The airline's EMBRAER 190 aircraft also offer more than 100 channels of free XM Satellite Radio; its A320 fleet is currently being retrofitted to provide the same service. On flights longer than two hours, a selection of first-run movies and bonus features from FOX InFlight(tm) is also available. JetBlue's new Irish customers will have convenient connections to more than 40 destinations via New York/JFK, including: Austin, TX; Buffalo, Rochester and Syracuse, NY; Burlington, VT; Denver, CO; Fort Lauderdale, FL; Las Vegas, NV; New Orleans, LA; San Diego, CA; and Seattle, WA. About Aer Lingus Aer Lingus Group plc -- http://www.aerlingus.com/ -- is an Irish low-cost, low-fares airline, providing both long-haul and short- haul passenger transportation services. Aer Lingus' low-cost, low-fares model is centred on maintaining low unit cost, offering one-way fares, maintaining effective fleet utilisation and developing the Aer Lingus brand. About JetBlue Airways Headquartered in Forest Hills, New York, JetBlue Airways (Nasdaq:JBLU) -- http://www.jetblue.com/ -- is a passenger airline that provides customer service on point-to-point routes. As of Feb. 14, 2007, JetBlue operated approximately 502 daily flights. The company serves 50 destinations in 21 states, Puerto Rico, Mexico and the Caribbean. The company operates a fleet of 98 Airbus A320 and 23 Embraer 190 aircrafts. The company's operations primarily consists of transporting passengers on its aircraft, with domestic United States operations, including Puerto Rico, accounting for approximately 97.1% of its capacity during the year ended Dec. 31, 2006. * * * As reported in the Troubled Company Reporter-Latin America on Aug. 15, 2007, Fitch Ratings affirmed these debt ratings of JetBlue Airways Corp.: issuer default rating at 'B'; and senior unsecured convertible notes at 'CCC' with a recovery rating of 'RR6'. Fitch said the rating outlook is stable. |
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