Upstart JetBlue Airways defies skeptics
Mar 5, 2004, 5:34 pm
#1
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Upstart JetBlue Airways defies skeptics
http://www.freep.com/money/business/jblue5_20040305.htm
Now, as JetBlue smokes other airlines financially by posting the highest operating margins in the business, the carrier is shaking up the industry.
At the same time it studies and even copies JetBlue, the industry is striking back. Traditional carriers such as American Airlines Inc. and Delta Air Lines Inc. have launched aggressive promotions to steal JetBlue customers...
From the beginning, JetBlue flew its own way. Instead of using leased older planes, it bought new Airbus A320s. It offered no meals but installed in-seat satellite TV, which has become such a draw that rival Delta added it to its low-fare carrier, Song. Southwest and American are considering whether to follow....
Because it has new planes and no labor unions, JetBlue will be able to grow quickly without its costs spiraling from its current level of about 6 cents per seat mile.
That compares favorably with majors such as American, which nearly went bankrupt when it lowered its seat-mile costs to about 9.5 cents. At the other end of the spectrum are US Airways Corp., Northwest Airlines Inc. and Delta, which have seat-mile costs near or above 11 cents.
Now, as JetBlue smokes other airlines financially by posting the highest operating margins in the business, the carrier is shaking up the industry.
At the same time it studies and even copies JetBlue, the industry is striking back. Traditional carriers such as American Airlines Inc. and Delta Air Lines Inc. have launched aggressive promotions to steal JetBlue customers...
From the beginning, JetBlue flew its own way. Instead of using leased older planes, it bought new Airbus A320s. It offered no meals but installed in-seat satellite TV, which has become such a draw that rival Delta added it to its low-fare carrier, Song. Southwest and American are considering whether to follow....
Because it has new planes and no labor unions, JetBlue will be able to grow quickly without its costs spiraling from its current level of about 6 cents per seat mile.
That compares favorably with majors such as American, which nearly went bankrupt when it lowered its seat-mile costs to about 9.5 cents. At the other end of the spectrum are US Airways Corp., Northwest Airlines Inc. and Delta, which have seat-mile costs near or above 11 cents.
Mar 5, 2004, 8:25 pm
#5
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<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by RobertS975:
But most of us DeltaManiacs do not get a chance to read those other topics, so thank you for posting this here!!!!!
What did it cost you.... 30 seconds?</font>
But most of us DeltaManiacs do not get a chance to read those other topics, so thank you for posting this here!!!!!
What did it cost you.... 30 seconds?</font>
Obscure2k
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Mar 6, 2004, 9:39 am
#6
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<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by obscure2k:
Good call-
Obscure2k
Moderator
Originally posted by RobertS975:
But most of us DeltaManiacs do not get a chance to read those other topics, so thank you for posting this here!!!!!
What did it cost you.... 30 seconds?</font>
But most of us DeltaManiacs do not get a chance to read those other topics, so thank you for posting this here!!!!!
What did it cost you.... 30 seconds?</font>
Obscure2k
Moderator
Obscure2K;
Isn't that a defense for nearly EVERY off-topic thread that has been closed and moved on this board?
Mar 6, 2004, 11:22 am
#7
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On further reflection, I have decided that this thread is more appropriate in the JetBlue Forum. Please continue to follow the discussion there.
Thanks,
Obscure2k
Moderator
Thanks,
Obscure2k
Moderator
Mar 6, 2004, 7:16 pm
#8
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At the end of that article it says "Neeleman tries to pitch in with his fellow "crew members," as they're called at JetBlue. When he flies JetBlue, he likes to hand out soft drinks and pretzels, donning a blue apron that says "Snack Boy." "
jetBlue have pretzels? I never knew that!
jetBlue have pretzels? I never knew that!
Mar 25, 2004, 7:42 am
#9
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For what is likely my final post in the old Flyertalk, I decided to post this link to an extremely positive article about JetBlue that came from the New York Times news service. Hey New Yorkers, was the article originally published in the New York Times?
http://deseretnews.com/dn/view/1,1249,595051083,00.html
http://deseretnews.com/dn/view/1,1249,595051083,00.html
Mar 25, 2004, 1:49 pm
#10
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<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by amanuensis:
For what is likely my final post in the old Flyertalk, I decided to post this link to an extremely positive article about JetBlue that came from the New York Times news service. Hey New Yorkers, was the article originally published in the New York Times?
http://deseretnews.com/dn/view/1,1249,595051083,00.html
</font>
For what is likely my final post in the old Flyertalk, I decided to post this link to an extremely positive article about JetBlue that came from the New York Times news service. Hey New Yorkers, was the article originally published in the New York Times?
http://deseretnews.com/dn/view/1,1249,595051083,00.html
</font>
http://www.nytimes.com/2004/03/23/bu...23jetblue.html
-Robert