Jetblew To Metro

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Oct 29, 2002
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JetBlue sets sights on Detroit

Low-fare airline expects to develop flights into Midwest cities within next few years

By Joel J. Smith / The Detroit News

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JetBlue Airways, the up-and-coming low-fare airline, has Detroit Metropolitan Airport on its list of potential destinations.

“It is a city of interest to us,†said Todd Burke, a spokesman for the discount carrier. “We continue to look at new destinations where there is a need for low-fare service with high-quality service. When we find it to be the right time and the right mix, we announce it.

“To say it (flying to and from Detroit Metro) might be in the next few years is a pretty safe statement.â€

Since launching four years ago, JetBlue has earned strong profits and won over devotees with its low fares and upscale amenities such as leather seats and individual video screens.

If JetBlue begins flying to and from Detroit Metro, it would be another thorn in the side of Northwest Airlines, the nation’s fourth largest carrier, which operates its largest hub in Detroit Metro. JetBlue is also considering flying at Northwest’s other key U.S. hubs, Minneapolis and Memphis.

Northwest announced in the past two weeks it was lowering fares to match some competitive routes flown by discount carriers such as Southwest Airlines, Spirit Airlines and new start-up Independence Air. Then last week, JetBlue intensified the fare war when it said it was putting 1 million seats on sale for up to half-off this fall, including $99 one way fares from New York or Boston to cities in California.

JetBlue currently operates out of JFK International Airport in New York City. It flies to 27 cities including five airports in the Caribbean. There are no JetBlue destinations in the Midwest.

JetBlue silenced doubters by turning a profit while major U.S. airlines were showing billions of dollars in losses after the September 11 terrorist attacks.

The low-fare airline operates 60, 156-seat, single-class Airbus 320 aircraft, all with plush leather seats and free, live 24-channel satellite television reception at every seat.

JetBlue will begin receiving another 40 Airbus 320s this fall with an option for 100 additional 320 aircrafts in the future. In 2005, the Forest Hills, N.Y.-based company will begin receiving its first of 200 Embraer 190 aircraft which will seat 100 passengers.

Officials from Detroit Metro and JetBlue confirm they’ve talked about operating out of Detroit in the past.

Lester Robinson, CEO of the Wayne County Airport Authority that runs Detroit Metropolitan Airport and Willow Run Airport, said there has been several informal discussions with Jet Blue about operating out of Metro Airport.

“They keep asking us what we can give them,†said Robinson. “All we can offer is a great airport and customer base.â€

Burke said there’s been no formal talks with Metro officials.

“We aren’t even in initial talks with Detroit at this point,†said Burke. “It has been very informal conversations with Detroit.â€

JetBlue has 4,704 employees. It had almost $1 billion in sales in 2003 while showing a net profit of $103.9 million.

You can reach Joel Smith at (313) 222-2556 or [email protected].



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Perhaps I fail to see where JetBlue stated they actually were going into Metro. Just a good usage of the words - if, potential, and might. Switch out Detroit with every other city in the midwest that has a good O&D market to New York.