<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by LemonThrower:
Some people have mentioned it as being unpatriotic. I'm assuming there were business reasons, and want to know what they are. Longer range, cheaper operation costs?
I don't pay attention to the metal I am on, so I don't know what the difference is. Besides price, I'm wondering what the business reasons were to choose Airbus over Boeing. Obviouisly, fleet commonality is a big concern, but why did they go with Airbus in the first place.</font>
As I understand it, good financing terms - little to pay in the beginning, ramping up later. Plus low maintenance costs on new aircraft. JetBlue was probably the best-capitalised low fare startup, and could afford to go down this route rather than scrabbling around for (very) used 737s like most others, which then tends to tie you in to Boeing in the longer term. And 737s are to a design that is now very long in the tooth.