JetBlue Airways (New York-JFK), New York’s hometown airline, announced its decision to keep its headquarters in New York City, and to combine the current Forest Hills, NY and Darien, CT corporate offices, with nearly 1,000 crewmembers and business partners in total, into one main support center to be located in Long Island City, Queens. In addition, recognizing JetBlue as New York’s Hometown Airline, JetBlue and the State will begin joint branding of the world-recognized I Love NY logo, an unprecedented partnership with the State’s iconic brand.
After an extensive multi-year review of several cities around the country, JetBlue narrowed its focus on New York City and Orlando. While both locations have tremendous synergies with JetBlue, New York, among other reasons, means JetBlue can now truly lay claim as New York’s Hometown Airline.
JetBlue’s Darien, CT support center will be combined with the current New York office sometime in 2011. Seventy jobs will be relocated to New York. The carrier’s Darien office provides transactional financial support for the value airline since 2000 and has been a key ingredient of the airline’s success in its first decade.
Orlando, which remains a significant city for JetBlue’s network, is the airline’s “home away from home” for more than 1,000 crewmembers and boasts JetBlue University, a world-class training facility, and support center. The airline continues to grow operations at Orlando International Airport offering 23 nonstop destinations, including six international cities.
New Address: 27-01 Queens Plaza North, Long Island City, New York
Subject to execution of a lease with Metropolitan Life Insurance Co. (MetLife), JetBlue expects to occupy approximately 200,000 square feet by mid-2012 in the historic Brewster Building in Long Island City Queens. The Brewster Building, owned by Brause Realty, a New York City-based real estate company, is just six miles down the road from JetBlue’s current support center location in Forest Hills, and is situated at the foot of one of the main gateways to Manhattan — the Queensborough Bridge.
The Brewster Building has a relevant aviation history. It was built in 1911 and is where the Brewster Aeronautical Company manufactured the Brewster F2A (a.k.a. The Brewster Buffalo), the first monoplane fighter airplane used by the U.S. Navy in World War II. In addition, the building is recognized by the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) as having achieved Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design for Existing Buildings (LEED EB) Silver certification, which designates operation of high performance buildings that are environmentally responsible. JetBlue will be subleasing the space from MetLife, who will continue to maintain a significant presence at the location with approximately 800 associates.