Tag Archives: JetBlue

JetBlue advances focus city strategy with network reallocation, including new service in Guayaquil, Ecuador

JetBlue Airways today announced a series of network changes that will advance its strategy in multiple focus cities, making the airline even more relevant in its key markets and ensuring its network is optimized to meet customer demand. The network changes are also key to achieving the airline’s margin commitments and delivering long-term value to its shareholders.

The reallocation of service will result in a new JetBlue city in Ecuador, new service between current JetBlue cities, and additional flights on popular routes. To free up aircraft time for the introduction of the new flying, JetBlue will reduce underperforming service.

“We constantly review network performance and make adjustments to support our focus city strategy, which is about building up our key markets to be stronger and even more relevant to local travelers,” said Joanna Geraghty, president, JetBlue. “In total, these changes are forecast to generate a substantial improvement in annual profit and strengthen our business as a whole, while allowing us to invest in our growth and our industry-leading customer experience.”

JetBlue Announces Expansion to Guayaquil, Ecuador

JetBlue will launch new service at Guayaquil, Ecuador’s José Joaquín de Olmedo International Airport (GYE) with flights from Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport (FLL). Service will operate daily and is expected to take off in the first quarter of 2019. Guayaquil becomes the second JetBlue city in Ecuador – Quito launched in 2016 – and the sixth JetBlue city in South America overall. Seats will go out for sale in the coming weeks.

Ecuador’s largest city and main port, Guayaquil – which today celebrates its 198th year of independence – boasts revitalized squares, parks and various urban-renewal projects, and also has a growing theater, film and arts scene. The riverfront promenade and modern shopping areas all over the city attract tourism from inside and outside the country. Guayaquil, home to some two million people, also serves as a gateway to Pacific beaches and the Galapagos Islands.

The new flights between Fort Lauderdale/Hollywood and Guayaquil expand JetBlue’s footprint outside the U.S., and is part of a broader reach into international markets. In recent years the airline has built a robust network throughout Latin America and the Caribbean and now operates in 22 countries. JetBlue is a leading airline in markets like Puerto Rico, Cuba and the Dominican Republic. The airline also serves more than a dozen unique island destinations throughout the Caribbean along with various cities in Mexico, Colombia, Costa Rica and Peru.

New service between the U.S. and Ecuador will be operated on JetBlue’s Airbus A320 aircraft featuring the airline’s award-winning service with comfortable seating; complimentary and unlimited name-brand snacks; free first-run Hollywood movies; and the most legroom in coach.

JetBlue Adds New Connect-the-Dot Routes

JetBlue will introduce four new routes to the airline’s network starting this winter, connecting more customers with destinations across the route map – north to south and east to west. JetBlue will launch new nonstop service starting this winter between:

Boston and Greater Rochester International Airport (ROC)
Fort Lauderdale/Hollywood and Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport (PHX)
Fort Lauderdale/Hollywood and St. Maarten’s Princess Juliana International Airport (SXM)
Providence’s T. F. Green International Airport (PVD) and Palm Beach International Airport (PBI)

Roundtrip flights on all four new routes will operate once daily and advance JetBlue’s leadership position in the Northeast, Florida and the Caribbean. In addition to creating new nonstop choices for travelers, the new Boston and Fort Lauderdale/Hollywood routes also open up a variety of new or improved connecting choices for customers traveling through the airline’s focus cities. Seats on all four new routes are on sale today.

JetBlue Adds Flights Where Customers Want Them Most

In addition to the new nonstop JetBlue markets being introduced, the airline will also increase flights on nearly two dozen of its most popular and profitable existing nonstop routes in the Northeast, Florida and the Caribbean. Roughly two-thirds of the added flights will originate in Boston or Fort Lauderdale, accelerating JetBlue’s focus city growth strategy and maintaining the airline’s leadership position in both markets.

In JetBlue’s Boston focus city – in addition to new nonstop Rochester service – the airline will boost flights on nine existing routes. JetBlue will soon offer flights to more than 70 nonstop destinations – more than any other airline – and is the leader in number of customers carried and total daily departures. JetBlue also serves Boston with premium Mint flights to a half dozen destinations. With Mint, JetBlue re-imagined the outdated “business class” service offered by legacy carriers with lie-flat seating, curated food and amenities, and hospitality-trained inflight crewmembers – offered at an affordable price. JetBlue is on track to reach 200 daily departures at Logan in the coming years.

In Fort Lauderdale, JetBlue’s South Florida focus city plays a key role in supporting the airline’s growing route map and offers flights to nearly every corner of the airline’s network from Lima to Los Angeles. It is one of JetBlue’s fastest-growing focus cities, serving customers throughout South Florida and offering a fast and convenient alternative for Miami-Dade travelers. The airline has committed to up to 140 daily departures in the coming years and recently expanded its operation to new gates in Terminal 3 and began utilizing Terminal 1 for additional international arrivals to help support future growth. JetBlue is also the only airline to offer a premium, lie-flat seat on domestic routes in Fort Lauderdale with its Mint flights to Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) and San Francisco International Airport (SFO).

As New York’s Hometown Airline®, JetBlue will also boost service on a variety of routes customers love from the airline’s home at JFK’s award-winning T5. JetBlue operates 170 daily flights at JFK and served nearly 14 million customers in 2017. Travelers can soon expect more schedule choices on flights to Mexico, Florida, the Caribbean and summer seasonal favorites like Nantucket.

Making Valuable Aircraft Time Available By Reducing Underperforming Flying

To support new city and multi-route expansions, while capitalizing on the strongest parts of the airline’s network, JetBlue will reduce flights in some existing markets. Effective January 8, 2019, JetBlue will eliminate service in:

Daytona Beach International Airport (DAB)
- Once daily New York-JFK service
St. Croix’s Henry E. Rohlsen Airport (STX)
- Once daily San Juan service
Washington Dulles International Airport (IAD)
- Daily New York-JFK and Boston service

Customers in these affected cities will still be able to access JetBlue service at another airport in the region or will be able to utilize service with JetBlue partner airlines.

Elsewhere on its route map, JetBlue will scale back flying on a number of other underperforming routes and frequencies in January, including certain flights serving Baltimore, Detroit, Pittsburgh, and Santiago, Dominican Republic.

In Mexico City, where JetBlue is launching new service from Boston and New York JFK, the airline will reduce twice daily service from both Fort Lauderdale/Hollywood and Orlando International Airport (MCO) to once daily between each Florida focus city and the Mexican capital in the first quarter of 2019.

At the Portland International Jetport (PWM) in Maine, JetBlue will transition from year-round daily service to daily summer seasonal service. The final day of current service levels will be January 7, 2019. Service will then resume on a summer seasonal schedule starting in spring 2019. Portland is a customer-favorite destination and sees a strong surge in travel during the warmer months of the year. In response to customer travel patterns and demand, JetBlue will focus on providing the airline’s award-winning service and a customer-friendly schedule during the summer travel season.

Top Copyright Photo (all others by JetBlue): JetBlue Airways ) LGB (Michael B. Ing). Image: 943852.

JetBlue aircraft slide show:

JetBlue introduces its first Embraer 190 special livery – “Blueprint”

jetblue-erj-190-100-n304jb-17-blueprintgrd-jfk-jetbluelrw

JetBlue Airways (New York) on February 20, 2017 announced two eye-catching additions to the airline’s fleet with the very first special livery for an Embraer 190 (above) and a new tailfin design that will appear on multiple aircraft this year (below). The airline is introducing the new paint schemes as it celebrates its 17th anniversary this month.

jetblue-blueprint-design-elements-jetbluehr

‘Blueprint’ Is Born

JetBlue has a long tradition of adding unique, special liveries to its Airbus A320 fleet and that tradition is expanding to the airline’s Embraer 190 fleet.

Often referred to as the backbone of the operation in cities like Boston; Washington, D.C.; and San Juan, Puerto Rico, JetBlue’s design team created a paint scheme that showcased the so-called “bones” of the 100-seat aircraft. Drawing upon the styles of various aviation, nautical and space exploration vehicle cut-away diagrams, the JetBlue design team created a mechanical x-ray of sorts infused with some JetBlue fun.

The see-through paint job draws on both the technical and fanciful aspects of air travel. Mechanical features like the nose gear, jet engine and yoke were among the more obvious design elements to include. But for the onboard features, JetBlue designers drew upon their own travel experiences, crewmember tales, and the airline’s loyal customers for inspiration, even creating fictional characters to compile a list of the items they might be traveling with. Plane spotters are encouraged to give the overhead bins, under-seat storage areas, and the luggage holds a closer look to see if they can spot the nearly 50 items these “Blueprint” customers are traveling with.

Although “Blueprint” features just three signature JetBlue colors, it is one of the airline’s most intricate special livery designs and took nearly two weeks to paint at a facility in Quebec. The first-ever JetBlue E190 special livery debuted at Boston’s Logan International Airport and will operate on routes served by the E190 throughout the JetBlue network.

‘Highrise’ Reaches for the Skies

JetBlue has come a long way since launching its first two routes, now flying to 100 destinations across the U.S., Caribbean and Latin America. And even as the airline looks toward more growth in the years ahead there’s still no place like home. That’s why New York’s Hometown Airline® is honoring the city that never sleeps with a tailfin take on the buildings that form the iconic skyline.

The design, which depicts the image of bright lights through window panes of city high-rises (above), is meant to reflect JetBlue’s growth and New York’s perpetual desire to reach for the sky. Four of JetBlue’s signature colors are reflected in “Highrise” and the illuminated windows can be rearranged creating a slightly different pattern on different aircraft tailfins.

The “Highrise” pattern debuted at New York’s John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) and will be added to additional aircraft this year across the JetBlue network, so customers can be on the lookout for the newest tailfin design in a city near them.

Top Photo: JetBlue Airways. Embraer ERJ 190-100 IGW N304JB (msn 19000257) pushes back from the gate.

Why is David Neeleman buying a controlling share of problem-plagued TAP Portugal?

David Neeleman, the airline entrepreneur who was involved with running Morris Air (Salt Lake City) with June Morris before he founded NewAir (later JetBlue Airways) (New York) and later Azul Brazilian Airlines (Sao Paulo), has struck out again with a new airline venture. This time he is not creating something new but buying into something old.

Neeleman lead an investment group which has been selected by the state of Portugal to acquire their controlling share in troubled flag carrier TAP Portugal (Lisbon) for €348 million ($391 million), outbidding investor German Efromovich. Besides running Azul, he will now be running trouble-plagued TAP Portugal. His group will control 61 percent of the stock of TAP Portugal. Neeleman’s group will upgrade the carrier with new aircraft (probably new Embraers for the European routes).

TAP Portugal is also likely to receive a new makeover with the new ownership group, possibly with a new blue theme.

Read the full report from Bloomberg Businessweek: CLICK HERE

Portugal is the mother country of Brazil. The ties are strong. Both countries speak the same language and the traffic patterns are strong between Brazil and Portugal. The Azul-TAP alliance will now compete against TAM and the LATAM Airlines Group which wants to increase the number of flights between Brazil and Europe. The battle lines are being drawn in Brazil.

For Neeleman, his Brazilian roots are deep. According to Wikipedia, Neeleman was born in São Paulo, Brazil, but raised in Miami. He lived in Brazil until he was five. He later attended Brighton High School in Cottonwood Heights, Utah, and attended the University of Utah for three years before dropping out. He served on a religious mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (The Mormons) in the Northeast Region of Brazil.

After starting JetBlue Airways, CEO David Neeleman on May 10, 2007 was forced out and replaced by David Barger.

Neeleman headed south, back to his original roots. On March 27, 2008 Neeleman officially announced plans to launch a new airline, Azul (Portuguese for “blue”). Azul is now Brazil’s third largest airline and it is expanding internationally.

Also according to Wikipedia, Neeleman lives with his family in New Canaan, Connecticut, United States. He is the father of nine children. In 2000, he disclosed to CNBC that he has adult attention-deficit disorder (see the video above).

When Azul expanded to the United States it picked two cities that are big on the JetBlue Airways route map – Fort Lauderdale/Hollywood and Orlando, Florida. The ties between Azul and Neeleman’s old JetBlue Airways remain strong.

JetBlue has considered larger aircraft and longer-range routes to Latin America in the past. In essence, Azul is now filling this void (at least to Brazil) with its newly-acquired Airbus A330s.

It is very likely that Neeleman has much bigger plans in mind. The synergy between Brazil (and Latin America), North America and Europe are strong. For Neeleman, he now has the European piece in place once he solves the problems plaguing the flag carrier of Portugal. He also has remaining ties to the North American airline he founded – JetBlue Airways. Are the three the future base of a much larger airline alliance?

For JetBlue, their strategy is to make airline friends with any international carrier that has the potential of code sharing at their point of entry into the United States. They have successfully carved out a niche feeding international airlines especially at New York (JFK), Orlando and Fort Lauderdale/Hollywood. This strategy has recently put them at odds with the “Big Three” (American, Delta and United) over the on-going Open Skies dispute with the “Gulf Big Three” (Emirates, Etihad and Qatar). Due to their stance, their ties with the Gulf Big Three are likely to expand. Will Qatar Airways leave the oneworld alliance for JetBlue?

There is a lot of potential for a future Azul-TAP Portugal-JetBlue alliance although JetBlue is unlikely to do anything that would upset any relationship it has.

For David Neeleman, this is only the beginning.

Video: GE Capital. David Neeleman on Leadership and Innovation.

JetBlue Airways to fly New York – Havana charter flights

JetBlue Airways (New York) has announced it will operate weekly New York (JFK) – Havana, Cuba charter flights for tour organizer Cuba Travel Services starting on July 3. JetBlue also operates to Cuba from both Fort Lauderdale/Hollywood and Tampa. The airline issued this full statement:

New York Governor Andrew Cuomo joined with JetBlue Airways, and its charter partner, Cuba Travel Services, yesterday (May 5) to announce a new flight from New York to Havana, Cuba. The milestone makes JetBlue the first major carrier to announce a new flight to Cuba from New York since travel restrictions were recently eased.

The expanded charter service comes on the heels of Governor Cuomo’s trade mission to Cuba, where the Governor, joined by JetBlue CEO Robin Hayes and other New York business leaders, led a dialogue to connect New York businesses to new opportunities in Cuba.

Cuba Travel Services is offering the flight, operated by JetBlue, on Fridays from New York’s John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) to Havana’s José Martí International Airport (HAV) beginning July 3, 2015. Travelers should make arrangements directly with Cuba Travel Services.

Cuba Travel Services, a leading authorized carrier service provider, believes expanding its flight network will provide licensed travelers more travel options for a lower cost. The additional service offers customers additional options to travel to Cuba from New York without connection delays or extra domestic travel expenses to connect in Florida.

The New York metropolitan area has the second largest Cuban-American population in the United States after Florida.

JetBlue serves all charter flights to Cuba on its 150-seat Airbus A320.

With the addition to the New York-Havana flight, JetBlue will operate five weekly round trips to Cuba, including flights from Tampa (TPA) and Fort Lauderdale/Hollywood (FLL) with various charter partners. Cuba will one day play an important role in JetBlue’s overall Caribbean network, a region where JetBlue is the largest airline. The airline began flying to Cuba for charter companies in 2011.

Schedule between New York and Havana on Fridays as of July 3, 2015:

JFK – HAV HAV – JFK 12:00 p.m. – 3:30 p.m. 4:30 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.

About Cuba Travel Services

Cuba Travel Services Inc. arranges daily, nonstop public charter flights between the United States and Cuba and is licensed by the U.S. Treasury Department’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) as an authorized Carrier Service Provider specializing in travel to Cuba. They offer full service travel arrangements to individuals, groups, families, educators, students, professionals and organizations, under Specific or General Licenses issued by the Office of Foreign Assets Control.

Copyright Photo: Fred Freketic/AirlinersGallery.com. Airbus A320-232 N624JB (msn 2520) touches down at John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) in New York last winter.

JetBlue Airways aircraft slide show:

JetBlue Airways and Silver Airways announce a code-share partnership, FLL-BWI to start November 12

JetBlue Airways (New York) and Silver Airways (Fort Lauderdale/Hollywood) have announced a codeshare partnership that gives customers of both airlines access to new destinations, when connecting on a JetBlue flight. The majority of transfer opportunities will be in JetBlue’s focus cities Orlando (MCO) and Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood (FLL). Later this year, the partnership will expand to include 13 Silver Airways routes from Florida to The Bahamas, subject to receipt of regulatory approvals.

Under the agreement, customers will enjoy booking a single ticket and seamless baggage transfers when flying on a JetBlue codeshare flight operated by Silver Airways, and members of JetBlue’s frequent flyer program, TrueBlue, will earn points on all codeshare flights. Flights are now available for purchase on JetBlue.com in select markets.

The JetBlue ‘B6’ designator code will initially be placed on 14 Silver Airways routes, helping JetBlue customers get to destinations across Florida on one itinerary including:

Gainesville (GNV) – Orlando
Key West (EYW) – Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood
Key West – Orlando
Key West – Fort Myers (RSW)
Key West – Tampa (TPA)
Orlando – Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood
Orlando – Fort Myers
Pensacola (PNS) – Orlando
Pensacola – Tampa
Tallahassee (TLH) – Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood
Tallahassee – Orlando
Tallahassee – Tampa
Tampa – Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood
Tampa – Jacksonville (JAX)

The agreement gives customers the opportunity to connect from seven airports across Florida to JetBlue’s continuously growing network in both Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood and Orlando, reaching final destinations throughout the U.S., Latin America and the Caribbean.

JetBlue is the largest airline from Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood, with more than 70 daily flights to 36 cities in 10 countries, including Colombia, Costa Rica, Dominican Republic, Jamaica, Haiti, Mexico and Peru.

The two airlines have successfully cooperated on an interline basis since 2013. This marks JetBlue’s thirteenth announced codeshare agreement.

In other news, JetBlue Airways has announced its new twice-daily service to Baltimore/Washington Thurgood Marshall International Airport (BWI) will launch November 12. This will be JetBlue’s second destination from Baltimore/Washington, having launched its nonstop service to Boston Logan International Airport (BOS) in 2009.

Baltimore/Washington is one of several new destinations JetBlue will launch from Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood this year. On April 30, the airline will launch nonstop routes to Cleveland Hopkins International Airport (CLE) and Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport (DTW). With these additional routes, JetBlue will serve 36 cities across the U.S., Caribbean and Latin America on a nonstop basis from its South Florida focus city.

Copyright Photo: Brian McDonough/AirlinersGallery.com. Airbus A320-232 N766JB (msn 3724) in the Tartan tail scheme arrives at Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport.

JetBlue Airways aircraft slide show:

JetBlue Airways celebrates 15 years of flying with a new values logo jet

JetBlue Airways (New York) has repainted its Airbus A320-232 N598JB (msn 2314) in a new 15th Anniversary special color scheme that features keywords that represents the values of the company.

The pictured N598JB is now flying in the system (it departed Fort Lauderdale/Hollywood this morning bound for Lima, Peru) emblazoned with the five founding values across the fuselage and a brand new name: Bluemanity!

Later on February 17 JetBlue issued this statement:

JetBlue Airways today (February 17) unveiled its newest unique plane design, dedicated to JetBlue’s 16,000 crewmembers, and emblazoned with the values they share as they go above and beyond every day inspiring humanity. The salute comes as JetBlue celebrates 15 years this month of forging a uniquely contrarian path in air travel, originating with the same values that define the airline today.

The new livery, which has been applied to a JetBlue Airbus A320, features a word cloud of JetBlue’s mission of “Inspiring Humanity” and the core values that continue to set it apart: Safety, Caring, Integrity, Passion and Fun.

“In all our JetBlue cities, there are amazing stories of crewmembers going above and beyond to help our Customers and one another,” said Mike Elliott, senior vice president, people. “This plane with our values proudly displayed across the fuselage is a tribute to all JetBlue crewmembers, the best in the industry, who take our mission to inspire humanity and make it real every day.”

Bluemanity joins JetBlue’s fleet of 206 aircraft immediately, and flies as a symbol of appreciation to all those crewmembers who will ever touch it as it makes its way across our network.

Design Inspired by Jaelyn

The idea to honor crewmembers was inspired by a story that demonstrates JetBlue’s unique culture in action. In 2013, several crewmembers in Tampa stepped up to help the young granddaughter of one of their own who was facing a life-threatening heart condition called myocarditis. After Tech Ops crewmembers across the network held a fundraiser, $3,000 of the funds were stolen from a crewmember’s car. The event moved the entire community to rally around the little girl on her journey to a new heart.

JetBlue design inspired by Jaelyn

Next to the forward door of the aircraft, every customer who boards will see the symbol “Design Inspired by Jaelyn.” The emblem serves as a dedication to little Jaelyn, her new heart, and the crewmembers and their families who made it possible.

Continuing a contrarian model

Since JetBlue inaugurated service between New York’s John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) and Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood, Florida, with two daily nonstop flights on February 11, 2000, it quickly became known for its differentiated customer-focused approach, disrupting the traditional airline model during a difficult period for legacy airline carriers.

Today, JetBlue operates more than 825 daily flights to 87 destinations across the United States, the Caribbean, and Central and South America with a fleet of more than 200 aircraft, and continues to challenge industry standards. JetBlue offers the most legroom of any airline in coach(a), free seatback entertainment, unlimited free snacks and free Fly-Fi broadband internet. Even with these features, the airline recognizes the most powerful differentiator is the dedicated individuals who support their customers every day with safety, caring, integrity, passion, and fun.

Top Copyright Photo: Derin Allard/AirlinersGallery.com. Airbus A320-232 N598JB (msn 2314) arrives at Long Beach with the new design to celebrate 15 years of flying.

Below Photo: JetBlue Airways.

JetBlue Airways aircraft slide show:

Video: By JetBlue Airways.

<p><a href=”https://vimeo.com/119853660″>JetBlue N598JB</a> from <a href=”https://vimeo.com/user19954503″>Bruce Drum</a> on <a href=”https://vimeo.com”>Vimeo</a>.</p>

JetBlue Airways to accept Apple Pay, will deploy iPad minis for its inflight crewmembers

JetBlue Airways (New York) today announced plans to be the first major domestic carrier in the U.S. to accept Apple Pay™ in the sky, making mobile payments at cruising altitude simple and speedy.

The airline continued:

Above Photo: JetBlue Airways.

Apple Pay gives customers an easy and secure way to pay for onboard purchases of premium offerings. Customers often already have their mobile phone in hand or nearby when the time comes to buy a snack or amenity. Those with an iPhone® 6, iPhone 6 Plus and soon Apple Watch™ can use Apple Pay to purchase premium offerings such as EatUp snack boxes and à la carte food options from the EatUp Café, premium beverages, onboard amenities and Even More Space seating.

An iPad mini for Every Inflight Crewmember

To enable Apple Pay in the air, JetBlue will deploy iPad minis and NFC-enabled cases to more than 3,500 inflight crewmembers. In addition to the cases with Apple Pay compatibility, each iPad mini will be loaded with a custom-designed iOS app — The Inflight Service Assistant — which will give inflight crewmembers access to customer manifest and flight data to provide the best experience possible to JetBlue customers.

The Inflight Service Assistant app offers crewmembers the ability to easily identify TrueBlue and Mosaic loyalty members by name for those special touches like wishing a customer a happy birthday. The iOS app will also offer timely flight information, aircraft configuration and safety information, along with the cases that offer with the payment processing capability for Apple Pay and traditional credit card purchases.

In addition to onboard purchases, JetBlue customers will be able use Apple Pay to complete purchases in JetBlue’s mobile iOS app later this year.

Copyright Photo: Ken Petersen/AirlinersGallery.com. Airbus A321-231 N937JB (msn 6245) in the Prism tail design taxies at New York (JFK).

JetBlue Airways aircraft slide show:

JetBlue Airways adds three new routes from Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport today

JetBlue Airways (New York) today (December 18) adds three more nonstop routes from Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA), all to Florida: Fort Myers (RSW), Jacksonville (JAX) and West Palm Beach (PBI). Service to Jacksonville is twice daily, while Fort Myers and West Palm Beach will enjoy daily service. During the holiday season from December 19 to January 4, 2015, JetBlue will offer a second daily service to both Fort Myers and West Palm Beach.

This year, JetBlue has significantly increased its presence at Reagan National, adding a total of six routes and also increasing frequencies in existing markets. Earlier this year, flights to Charleston, SC (CHS), Hartford, Conn. (BDL) and Nassau, Bahamas (NAS) were launched, and service to Tampa, Fla. (TPA), was boosted with a second daily flight.

JetBlue now offers nonstop flights to 11 cities: Boston, Charleston, Hartford, Fort Lauderdale/ Hollywood, Fort Myers, Jacksonville, Nassau, Orlando, Tampa and West Palm Beach, as well as the only nonstop service to San Juan, Puerto Rico. To support its expanded flight schedule in Washington, JetBlue recently relocated its operations into Reagan National’s Terminal B.

Copyright Photo: Jay Selman/AirlinersGallery.com. Airbus A320-232 N805JB (msn 5148) displays the Barcode tail design and also has the Sharklets.

JetBlue Airways aircraft slide show:

Routes from Washington (Reagan National):

JetBlue Airways expands its online “Fly-Fi” content partnerships

JetBlue Airways (New York) has issued the following announcement concerning new online content partners:

JetBlue Airways is partnering with content providers Coursera, FOX, HarperCollins Publishers, National Geographic, Rouxbe and Time Inc. to offer customers more free content than any other U.S carrier in the sky. The Fly-Fi Hub is the new gateway to JetBlue’s Fly-Fi offering, the fastest Wi-Fi in the sky, and went live this morning (November 24). Available to JetBlue customers via their own personal device, it will offer a wide range of entertainment options such as some of the most popular TV shows from FOX and National Geographic, ebook samples from HarperCollins, e-learning videos from Coursera and Rouxbe and the option to purchase magazines from Time Inc.’s portfolio.

In the next phase of JetBlue’s Fly-Fi Hub, due to roll out first quarter 2015, additional content from PBS, Random House and the Wall Street Journal will be added. PBS will primarily provide childrens content, while the Wall Street Journal will allow customers onboard full complementary access to wsj.com whilst onboard.

Content available on the Fly-Fi Hub as of today:

1. 10 e-learning videos from Coursera, including courses from Berklee School of Music, University of Edinburgh and Wharton Business School;

2. Some of FOX’s most popular TV shows, including Brooklyn Nine-Nine, Gotham, New Girl and Sleepy Hollow;

3. Excerpts from more than 20 bestselling books published by HarperCollins including The Heist by Daniel Silva, I Must Say by Martin Short, Flesh and Blood by Patricia Cornwell, Yes Please by Amy Poehler and Endgame: The Calling by James Frey and Nils Johnson-Shelton

4. National Geographic shows, including Brain Games, Ultimate Survival Alaska and Wicked Tuna;

5. A number of learning videos from Rouxbe focusing on cooking, with the opportunity for a free trial once at home; and

6. Time Inc.’s full array of monthly magazines including InStyle, Real Simple, Southern Living, Essence, Health, Travel + Leisure, People en Español and Golf. Time Inc.’s weekly magazines will be available in 2015.

The content on JetBlue’s Fly-Fi Hub will be uniquely available both online and offline, making all programming available on all Fly-Fi equipped aircraft. Approximately 20 Fly-Fi equipped aircraft are expected to offer the Fly-Fi Hub by the end of November, with all of JetBlue’s 97 Fly-Fi equipped aircraft by the end of the year.

JetBlue launched Fly-Fi, the fastest Wi-Fi among all U.S. airlines, last year, which is currently available on 88 aircraft, with the number of Fly-Fi enabled aircraft increasing each week. JetBlue is now the only airline in the world to offer free live television at every seat and free high-speed Wi-Fi. The new Fly-Fi Portal will serve as a content hub where customers can access a wide range of movies, television shows and additional content from their own personal devices.

Copyright Photo: Michael B. Ing/AirlinersGallery.com. Airbus A320-232 N532JB (msn 1123) lands in Long Beach in the original 1999 Stripes livery. It has now been repainted in the Blueberries tail motif.

JetBlue Airways aircraft slide show:

JetBlue Airways introduces its “Vets in Blue” Airbus A320 logo jet

JetBlue Airways (New York) today unveiled its latest logo jet on this Airbus A320-232 registered as N775JB (msn 3800). The pictured “Vets in Blue” special livery was unveiled in time for Veterans Day tomorrow (November 11). The airline issued this statement, photos and video:

JetBlue Airways, New York’s Hometown Airline TM, is celebrating this Veterans Day in a rather unique way. Today the airline is honoring a group of current and former members of the United States Armed Forces spanning several generations, with a special charter flight from New York to Washington, DC and a once-in-a-lifetime experience. Upon arrival at New York’s JFK Airport, this select group of veterans will receive a treat as the airline reveals its newest livery, “Vets in Blue.”

The inaugural flight on the “Vets in Blue” aircraft will include nearly 120 veterans who were nominated for a trip from JFK to Ronald Reagan National Airport (DCA) in Washington, DC. Much to their surprise, JetBlue is saluting these service members by welcoming them aboard as the first travelers on “Vets in Blue.” The first “Vets in Blue” flight will also include JetBlue crewmembers who are veterans of military service.

Fittingly, the first two pilots in the cockpit and the four inflight crewmembers will consist of all veterans. “We are excited to publicly introduce our ‘Vets in Blue’ aircraft and pledge our ongoing support for all members of the U.S. military, whether presently serving or veterans of past service. To christen this newly decorated livery, JetBlue invited military guests spanning from Junior ROTC cadets of Aviation High School to veterans of World War II to be among the first guests on this special aircraft,” said Jeff Martin, first officer for this special charter flight. Martin is currently senior vice president of operations at JetBlue and a former U.S. Air Force pilot.

After arriving at DCA, JetBlue will host a luncheon in DCA’s historic Terminal A where Margaret E. McKeough, executive vice president and chief operating officer of the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority, General Stanley McChrystal, JetBlue board member and JetBlue’s President, Robin Hayes, will provide inspirational remarks. Following the luncheon, veterans and other guests from the Cradle of Aviation Museum & Education Center, USO, the National WWII Museum, Purple Heart Homes, the American Legion, and the U.S. Army Soldier for Life Program will receive personalized tours of some of the veterans monuments of our nation’s capital, including the Disabled Veterans, WWII, Vietnam and Lincoln Memorials.

“‘Vets in Blue’ is JetBlue’s unique way to salute veterans both at our airline and in our local communities. It is our duty to honor the brave men and women who put their lives on the line to protect our freedoms. Our ‘Vets in Blue’ livery and program is a small symbol of our appreciation and support for our military service members,” said Dave Barger, chief executive officer, JetBlue Airways.

This freshly designed aircraft, painted blue and adorned with a yellow ribbon, a popular symbol of support for our nation’s troops, is just one way JetBlue honors those who have selflessly served and fought for our freedoms. In addition to the “Vets in Blue” livery, JetBlue’s “Vets in Blue” platform includes:

A commitment to veteran hiring – JetBlue is committed to veterans hiring and recently partnered with 100,000 Jobs Mission, an organization committed to helping transitioning service members and other veterans find employment. With more than 1,100 veterans currently employed by the airline including 193 hired this year, JetBlue also recently launched VetConnect, its first vet-to-vet peer mentoring program. This initiative helps newly hired veteran crewmembers transition from military service to life at JetBlue.

Home For the Holidays (b) – This Veterans Day, JetBlue would like to help veterans and active duty military make it home for the 2014 holiday season. Customers can nominate their veteran friends for a chance to receive a JetBlue flight by submitting their stories from November 10-20, 2014 at JetBlue.com/military. JetBlue will provide flights based on seat availability to selected veterans throughout December 2014. Customers are encouraged to share their veteran’s desired travel dates and home cities. JetBlue will select and notify the lucky recipients directly. Subject to contest rules and conditions.

A discount for veterans in partnership with Veterans Advantage: JetBlue, in partnership with Veterans Advantage, is also introducing a new discount program for U.S. active duty military, retired Veterans, National Guard and Reserve and their families (a). Members enrolled in Veterans Advantage will receive a 5 percent discount off of base fares on JetBlue flights with no blackout dates. JetBlue will also waive its standard $25 phone booking fee when Veterans Advantage members call 1-800-JETBLUE to book with their discount. Members enrolled in TrueBlue, JetBlue’s loyalty program, will also earn points from their trips for use on future travel. Active military members and their dependents will be able to pre-board flights and check up to five bags for free when traveling on duty or two bags for free on leisure trips (c). For more information visit JetBlue.com/military.

“Vets in Blue” is the latest addition to JetBlue’s exclusive legion of partnership aircraft celebrating organizations and causes, including “Blue Bravest,” which raises awareness for the FDNY Foundation, and “I Love New York,” highlighting New York State Tourism. On Veterans Day, customers are encouraged to keep an eye out for a first glimpse of “Vets in Blue” as it travels to destinations including Boston, Dallas, Fort Lauderdale/Hollywood, New York, Orlando and Washington, DC.

The new “Vets in Blue” platform and livery is just one example of JetBlue’s ongoing support for men and women in uniform. JetBlue proudly supports veterans causes by providing financial support and engaging in partnerships with organizations including Wounded Warrior Project, Bob Woodruff Foundation, Long Beach Waterfront Warriors, Fisher House, Rangers Lead the Way Foundation, Yellow Ribbon Fund, Commit Foundation, Alethia and the National WWII Museum. JetBlue also recently donated space for the USO Center T5/JFK, the first center at a New York area airport in nearly a decade. The thousands of troops and their families who pass through JFK every year now have a new place to call home. The new fully stocked Center is located in JetBlue’s T5 and is open seven days a week, 365 days per year.

To assist avid plane-spotters, or veteran supporters, the currently scheduled flights* of tail number n775JB “Vets in Blue” is as follows: