| Carrier: | JetBlue Airways
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| Headquarters: | USA
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| Founded: | 2000
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| Destinations: | 45
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| Bases: | New York JFK, Long Beach, Ft Lauderdale, Washington Dulles, Oakland, Boston
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| Owners: | Public
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| Listed: | Yes
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| Online Booking: | Yes
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| Website: | http://www.jetblue.com
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| Fleet | A320 85 +13 on order
E-190 18 +76 on order
| Overview - JetBlue Airways JetBlue: A star is born (and reborn) JetBlue has turned industry convention on its head numerous times since its 1998 founding. Before its successful launch, it was thought that New York airports were incompatible with LCC operations, that travellers would not use distant JFK for domestic flights, and that a LCC cannot use regional jet equipment or a mixed-type fleet. Although the carrier has had problems introducing the 100-seat EMB-190 to its fleet, its stylish, low cost service almost immediately took New York – and the country – by storm. Its success in keeping costs low and filling aircraft at low prices made it one of the very few carriers to fly profitably through the aftermath of 9/11. But the recent period has been frustrating for the carrier, as its competition has used bankruptcy-aided cuts to narrow the cost gap and it has found the challenge of finding profitable new destinations to keep up with its fleet growth daunting. The two combined with the high cost of fuel to see JetBlue record a yearly loss for 2005 and generate speculation that its formula was broken.
Outlook bright for LCC and its outstanding management team After its second consecutive losing quarter, the LCC drew up a plan for a return to profit. After retiring older A320s and deferring deliveries on new ones, re-emphasising higher-yielding (and less fuel-intensive) short and medium-haul operations and signing up with a traditional GDS, it delivered a profit in 2Q06, handily beating expectations. With a renewed focus on strategy, the trend-setting carrier's future seems promising.
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