Lufthansa interest
 

interesting!

http://dealbook.blogs.nytimes.com/20...ke-in-jetblue/

even more interesting is my shares are up 30% right now....wowza

I think it is great news for jetBlue. It will give them more financial stability and could open up a wide network of connections with Star Alliance carriers.

if B6 joined *A, that would be awesome. i'm a loyal UA flier, but i'm working on getting B6 as one of my clients and i would love to fly them from the employees i know and what they have told me about B6.

It's official..LH is taking 19% stake in B6!

Wonder what this means for operations (Connections to internationals destinations in Europe) possible codeshares? if any?

Official press release--conference call at 430PM EST
 

Press Releases

Lufthansa to Make Equity Investment in JetBlue; Will Buy Up to 19% Stake For $7.27 Per Share
NEW YORK and FRANKFURT, Germany, Dec. 13, 2007 (PRIME NEWSWIRE) -- JetBlue Airways Corporation (Nasdaq:JBLU) and Deutsche Lufthansa AG (Xetra:WKN 823212) today announced an agreement for Lufthansa to make a minority equity investment in JetBlue. This transaction represents the first significant investment by a European air carrier in a U.S. point-to-point air carrier.

Under the terms of the agreement, which has been approved by the Boards of both companies, Lufthansa will purchase in a private placement approximately 42 million newly issued common shares of JetBlue, or 19% of JetBlue's equity after giving effect to the issuance. Lufthansa is acquiring the shares at a price of $7.27 per share, or a total of approximately $300 million, representing approximately a 16% premium to yesterday's closing price of $6.25.

The agreement provides that a Lufthansa nominee will be appointed to the Board of Directors upon the closing of the transaction. The Lufthansa nominee will be a Class II director and will be up for election at JetBlue's annual meeting in 2008.

"We are very pleased to become an investor in JetBlue," said Lufthansa Group Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Wolfgang Mayrhuber. "Our investment reflects the confidence we have in JetBlue's quality, growth potential and management team. This investment presents Lufthansa with a compelling opportunity to invest in the U.S. point-to-point carrier market as the industry continues to evolve. The transaction links two airlines with international reputations for quality, innovation and a service culture."

"We welcome this significant endorsement of JetBlue's franchise from one of the most respected leaders in global aviation," said Dave Barger, JetBlue's CEO. "The agreement reaffirms our belief in JetBlue's disciplined growth plan and will also improve our balance sheet and give us greater financial flexibility as we move into 2008."

Both airlines also look forward to exploring potential opportunities for further cooperation for the benefit of their customers. No specific areas of potential cooperation have been agreed upon.

JetBlue shareholder approval is not required in connection with the transaction, which is subject to regulatory review and approval, and is expected to close in the first quarter of 2008.

Note for journalists

JetBlue will conduct an investor conference call today, December 13, at 4:30 p.m. Eastern Time. A live broadcast of the conference call will be available via the internet at http://investor.jetblue.com.

Tomorrow, 14 December 2007, 12 hours (CET)

Press conference at the Lufthansa Aviation Center (http://lac.lufthansa.com/de/index.php), Airportring, at Frankfurt Airport with Lufthansa Chairman and CEO Wolfgang Mayrhuber, Lufthansa CFO Stephan Gemkow and Dave Barger JetBlue-CEO;

The press conference will be available on the internet: click www.lufthansa.com/group

To ensure trouble-free admission to the conference, please bring your invitation, your press ID and an official photo with you.

About JetBlue Airways

New York-based JetBlue Airways has created a new airline category based on value, service and style. Known for its award-winning service and free TV as much as its low fares, JetBlue is now pleased to offer customers the most legroom throughout coach (based on average fleet-wide seat pitch for U.S. airlines) and is the first U.S. domestic carrier to introduce complimentary in-flight e-mail and instant messaging services using an onboard wireless network. JetBlue is also America's first and only airline to offer its own Customer Bill of Rights, with meaningful and specific compensation for customers inconvenienced by service disruptions within JetBlue's control. Visit www.jetblue.com/promise for details. JetBlue serves 53 cities with up to 550 daily flights. With JetBlue, all seats are assigned, all travel is ticketless, all fares are one-way, and an overnight stay is never required. For information or reservations call 1-800-JETBLUE (1-800-538-2583) or visit www.jetblue.com.

The JetBlue logo is available at http://www.primenewswire.com/newsroom/prs/?pkgid=795

About Lufthansa

Deutsche Lufthansa AG is a global aviation group with about 400 subsidiaries and affiliates. The Group operates in five business areas, centering on its core passenger transportation business. In 2006, the Lufthansa passenger airlines carried around 53.4 million passengers. The other business segments are Logistics, MRO, IT Services and Catering. The entire fleet of the Aviation Group comprises around 500 aircraft. Together with SWISS International Airlines and the regional carriers, flying on Lufthansa's behalf, the Group operates more than 770,000 flights for its customers yearly. The Lufthansa Group currently employs more than 100,000 people. Revenues in 2006 totalled about 19.8 billion euros.

CONTACT: Deutsche Lufthansa AG
Klaus Walther, SVP and Head of Corporate Communications
+49 69-696-2999
[email protected]

JetBlue Airways Corporation
Todd Burke, VP Corporate Communications
+001 718-709-3080
[email protected]

Will this hurt UA Lufthansa alliance? Might not all be upside

Good news. B6 will most likely become a M&M partner (and might eventually become a *A member and adopt M&M as its FFP), so we'll soon be able to earn and burn some miles.

I also wonder if B6 will be the first US carrier introduce the European Business Class concept of moving curtains (and blocked middle seats).

Next step...Lufthansa buys UA's Asia routes and gives them to jetBlue...now that would be a major annoucement.

In the long run, that might be possible.
As of now, B6 is a domestic point2point carrier w/o F or C class.

Very interesting.

I doubt B6 will join the *A - but you could be sure LH and B6 will codeshare on flights from BOS and JFK.

Problem with us joining *A is the lack of cabin class reciprocity, can't imagine that happening. However - an interline agreement becomes possible...

In order to feed pax to and from *A flights, B6 will have to introduce a C class product (and interline *A pax and luggage). If that happens, I'm pretty sure it will look like LH's European C class: same seats, moving curtain, middle seat blocking, great service and lounge access.

I think it is a little early to speculate about B6 joining Star, but if they did I wouldn't mind accumulating some UA miles on B6. :)

Why do you say that? How would it be any different than connecting to a Star plane that doesn't have a C cabin (RJ, for example)?