New York-Boston flights for just $100 on JetBlue?
JetBlue CEO David Neeleman is again talking about a New York-Boston route that would compete against Amtrak and both the Delta and US Airways shuttles. Appearing at a tourism conference in Brazil on Tuesday, The Boston Globe says Neeleman reiterated his plans to start JetBlue flights between New York JFK (the airline's top hub) and Boston, which was recently a "focus city" by the airline. But since JetBlue wouldn't start the service until it takes delivery of its new 100-seat Embraer 190 regional jets, the service appears to be at least a year away. "We have a good presence in Boston and New York," Neeleman is quoted as saying by Bloomberg News/The Atlanta Journal Constitution. "We're probably going to be there with the Embraer 190. It's a route we think we're going to do with a charge of about $100 round-trip." That fare would be up 50% less than the current rates charged by Delta, US Airways and Amtrak for their New York-Boston service. But JetBlue spokesman Gareth Edmondson-Jones tells Newsday of Long Island that the $100 fare is just "a discussion point," noting that such a fare would be comparable to the airline's lowest fares between JFK and its other New England destination of Burlington, Vt.
Charlotte may be primed for discount hub:
Regional flight operator Mesa Air Group might tie up "with an existing low-cost carrier and create a low-cost hub operation," CEO Jonathan Ornstein tells Aviation Today. "Charlotte might make the most sense," he said. While he wouldn't name prospective partners, sources with Mesa's pilot union suggest AirTran, Southwest and possibly JetBlue are likely candidates. "I have long been known to say hub operations work, with the caveat they have to be low-cost operations," Ornstein said. One thing that's been shelved for now, though, is Mesa's plan to buy 737s and feed them at a hub (Charlotte or elsewhere) with its own fleet of regional jets. He cited Mesa's inability to negotiate pay in advance for the pilots who would fly the 737s. "It is preposterous to put a plane on line and not know what the costs will be," Ornstein said. Mesa currently operates feeder flights for US Airways, United and America
JetBlue CEO David Neeleman is again talking about a New York-Boston route that would compete against Amtrak and both the Delta and US Airways shuttles. Appearing at a tourism conference in Brazil on Tuesday, The Boston Globe says Neeleman reiterated his plans to start JetBlue flights between New York JFK (the airline's top hub) and Boston, which was recently a "focus city" by the airline. But since JetBlue wouldn't start the service until it takes delivery of its new 100-seat Embraer 190 regional jets, the service appears to be at least a year away. "We have a good presence in Boston and New York," Neeleman is quoted as saying by Bloomberg News/The Atlanta Journal Constitution. "We're probably going to be there with the Embraer 190. It's a route we think we're going to do with a charge of about $100 round-trip." That fare would be up 50% less than the current rates charged by Delta, US Airways and Amtrak for their New York-Boston service. But JetBlue spokesman Gareth Edmondson-Jones tells Newsday of Long Island that the $100 fare is just "a discussion point," noting that such a fare would be comparable to the airline's lowest fares between JFK and its other New England destination of Burlington, Vt.
Charlotte may be primed for discount hub:
Regional flight operator Mesa Air Group might tie up "with an existing low-cost carrier and create a low-cost hub operation," CEO Jonathan Ornstein tells Aviation Today. "Charlotte might make the most sense," he said. While he wouldn't name prospective partners, sources with Mesa's pilot union suggest AirTran, Southwest and possibly JetBlue are likely candidates. "I have long been known to say hub operations work, with the caveat they have to be low-cost operations," Ornstein said. One thing that's been shelved for now, though, is Mesa's plan to buy 737s and feed them at a hub (Charlotte or elsewhere) with its own fleet of regional jets. He cited Mesa's inability to negotiate pay in advance for the pilots who would fly the 737s. "It is preposterous to put a plane on line and not know what the costs will be," Ornstein said. Mesa currently operates feeder flights for US Airways, United and America