Tag: mint (Page 2 of 2)

JetBlue in Talks With Airbus on A321XLR Airplane

June 3, 2019 / WIL BALDWIN

SEOUL (Reuters) – JetBlue Airways Corp is in discussions with Airbus SE about the European planemaker’s plans for a longer-range version of its A321neo family as it prepares to jump into the transatlantic market, Chief Executive Robin Hayes said on Monday.

The sixth-largest U.S. carrier has 85 A321neo aircraft on order, of which it has already decided to convert 13 into a longer-range version called the A321LR for its planned launch of daily flights from New York and Boston to London in 2021.

But if the low-cost carrier decides to fly to other European cities such as Brussels or Amsterdam, it will need a plane with more stamina. It is studying the A321XLR, which Airbus has been promoting ahead of a formal product announcement in June.

“London is the biggest opportunity because it has the highest fares, but there would be other opportunities if we had an airplane that had more range. The XLR gives us more range,” Hayes said on the sidelines of a global airlines meeting in Seoul.

“We’re still working through how many aircraft it would be (but) any XLRs would be linked to the planes we have on order today,” he told Reuters in an interview, adding any purchases would be converted from existing orders rather than generating completely new ones. No decision has yet been taken.

JetBlue is betting on its Mint business class product for narrowbody aircraft to succeed in the highly competitive premium transatlantic market. As of now, its U.S. customers have to fly to London on rival carriers where business class seats can cost as much as $12,000.

In the United States, JetBlue has argued that its Mint seats have driven a 50 percent decline in premium fares on some competing routes, and by sticking with narrowbody jets Hayes believes seats will be full.

U.S. carriers like American Airlines Group Inc and United Airlines service London with widebody aircraft that Hayes said can be tough to fill during off-peak travel.

“The transatlantic market is very seasonal. In the summer you tend to do very well but in the winter you’re flying a bunch of empty seats, so the LR helps us manage significantly the risk of the winter because we’re not flying such an expensive airplane.”

A handful of Europe-based budget carriers have tried to penetrate the transatlantic market in recent years, but only cash-strapped Norwegian Air is still standing.

Hayes said he expects to work on code-share agreements with partners that have a strong presence in Europe, where the airline wants to eventually build up its brand.

A number of JetBlue’s 50 airline partners have already reached out, he said.

(Reporting by Tracy Rucinski; Editing by Tim Hepher, Christopher Cushing)

JetBlue to Launch Transatlantic London Service in 2021

April 10, 2019 / WIL BALDWIN

FILE PHOTO: Travelers check-in at a JetBlue Airways kiosk at John F. Kennedy Airport in the Queens borough of New York, U.S., January 24, 2017. REUTERS/Shannon Stapleton

(Reuters) – JetBlue Airways Corp hopes to break into the low-fare, transatlantic travel market beginning in 2021 with multiple daily flights from New York and Boston to London, its first European destination, the carrier said on Wednesday.

To service the routes, the sixth largest U.S. carrier will convert 13 Airbus A321LR aircraft from its existing order book with a fresh version of its Mint business product.

The idea is to offer customers a fresh choice on routes where JetBlue President Joanna Geraghty said current competitor fares “are enough to make you blush.”

New York-based JetBlue, which unveiled the long-awaited launch at an employee event at John F. Kennedy International Airport, said it is still evaluating which London airports it will serve.

The company, which has built a reputation in the United States for more coach legroom than competitors and free broadband internet, has argued for regulators to force slot divestitures at high-traffic airports like London’s Heathrow to create a level playing field for new entrants.

A handful of Europe-based budget carriers have tried to penetrate the transatlantic market in recent years, but only cash-strapped Norwegian Air is still standing.

Iceland’s WOW, PrimeraAir Nordic, Britain’s Flybmi and Monarch Airlines and Cypriot carrier Cobalt have all ceased operations in a sector grappling with over-capacity and high fuel costs.

JetBlue said it will raise the bar on what travellers can expect from a low-cost carrier, particularly in Europe.

The carrier has argued in the past that its version of business class, Mint, has driven a 50 percent decline in premium fares on some competing U.S. routes, a reduction it believes it can also deliver for premium travel between the United States and Europe.

“JetBlue’s Mint product suits the Atlantic market as they will likely come in with stimulative fares to drive customer awareness and loyalty,” Cowen analyst Helane Becker said in a recent note to clients.

The main issue will be whether JetBlue is able to gain access at major international airports, she said, like London Heathrow and Amsterdam Schiphol.

(Reporting by Tracy Rucinski, editing by G Crosse)

JetBlue Airways Firms Order for 60 Airbus A220-300’s

January 8, 2019 / WIL BALDWIN

JetBlue Airways has firmed up an order for 60 A220-300 aircraft, the larger model of the new, industry-leading A220 series.

“As we approach our 20th anniversary, the impressive range and economics of the highly efficient A220, combined with the outstanding performance of our existing fleet of Airbus A321 and restyled A320 aircraft, will help ensure we deliver the best onboard experience to customers and meet our long-term financial targets as we continue disciplined growth into the future,” said Robin Hayes, Chief Executive Officer, JetBlue.

JetBlue’s existing Airbus fleet includes 193 A320 and A321ceo aircraft in operation, with an additional 85 A321neo aircraft on order.

“JetBlue has proven there is no contradiction between economic efficiency and a high quality product,” said Christian Scherer, Airbus Chief Commercial Officer. “Their endorsement of the A220 proves this aircraft meets those two criteria better than any alternative in its segment. Thank you JetBlue and congratulations on this big milestone in your growth.”

The order was completed the last week of December. Airbus will produce the A220-300 aircraft at a new U.S. assembly facility in Mobile, Alabama. Construction of the plant, to be located adjacent to the existing Airbus A320 assembly facility, will begin later this month.

The A220 is the only aircraft purpose built for the 100-150 seat market; it delivers unbeatable fuel efficiency and true widebody comfort in a single-aisle aircraft. The A220 brings together state-of-the-art aerodynamics, advanced materials and Pratt & Whitney’s latest-generation PW1500G geared turbofan engines to offer at least 20 percent lower fuel burn per seat compared to previous generation aircraft. With a range of up to 3,200 nm (5,020 km), the A220 offers the performance of larger single-aisle aircraft.

With an order book of more than 500 aircraft to date, the A220 has all the credentials to win the lion’s share of the 100- to 150-seat aircraft market estimated to represent at least 7,000 aircraft over the next 20 years.

@JetBlue #A220 #Airbus

Story and image from http://www.airbus.com

JetBlue Wants Regulators To Review Joint Ventures

November 16, 2018 / WIL BALDWIN

(Reuters) – The chief executive of JetBlue Airways Corp, which has made no secret of its desire to expand into transatlantic service, said on Thursday that U.S. and European regulators should review joint ventures that have allowed big airlines to dominate the market.

JetBlue CEO Robin Hayes, speaking at an airline industry event in New York, said consumers were at risk of decades of high fares because of legacy transatlantic partnerships.

JetBlue (JBLU.O), the sixth largest U.S. airline, wants to service Europe from its main hubs in New York, Boston and Fort Lauderdale, Florida, but is concerned about challenges posed by the big three U.S. legacy airlines’ control of important foreign markets through their global alliances.

American Airlines Group Inc (AAL.O), Delta Air Lines Inc (DAL.N) and United Airlines (UAL.O) are each part of a global airline alliance that together control nearly 80 percent of the transatlantic market. The three carriers also have joint ventures with member airlines in Europe that allow them to coordinate prices and schedules and share revenues.

“We believe that regulators should be doing everything they can to make it possible for new players and new models to have a fair shot at competing,” Hayes said.

Hayes believes competition authorities in the United States, the UK and the European Union should force slot divestitures to create a level playing field for new entrants, particularly in the wake of major consolidation among U.S. carriers over the past decade.

For example, since American Airlines forged a commercial tie-up with fellow oneworld alliance member British Airways (ICAG.L) in 2010, it has merged with US Airways to become the world’s largest airline.

Such mergers have made it more difficult for younger, low-fare carriers like JetBlue to access gates and slots – as airport take-off and landing rights are known – at congested airports where the larger airlines dominate.

A handful of Europe-based budget carriers, including Norwegian Air (NWC.OL) and WOW Air, have broken into the transatlantic market, but two – Primera Air and Monarch Airlines – were forced into bankruptcy over the past year.

JetBlue argues that Mint, the carrier’s version of business class, has driven a 50 percent decline in premium fares on some competing U.S. routes. It believes it can drive a similar reduction for premium travel between the United States and Europe.

Separately on Thursday, JetBlue announced a biometric self-boarding gate for international flights at New York’s John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK), becoming the first domestic airline to launch the use of facial recognition technology to verify passengers with a quick photo capture for international travel.

JetBlue has 14 million annual JFK customers.

(Reporting by Tracy Rucinski; Editing by Leslie Adler)

Image from www.jetblue.com

JetBlue Adds Mint Service South of the Border

August 9, 2018 / WIL BALDWIN

JetBlue has announced that it will begin seasonal service to Latin America this fall with the addition of flights between New York (JFK) and Costa Rica (LIR), and between Boston (BOS) and St. Lucia (UVF) and St. Maarten (SXM).

“Adding Mint between these cities means travelers on these routes can finally enjoy a first-class flying experience,” said Marty St. George, the executive vice president for commercial and planning at JetBlue.

Mint service brings a number of features into the fold on traditional flights with lie-flat seats, signature cocktails, amenity kits, and a special tapas menu has made Mint service a big hint among the traveling public looking for an upgraded experience. Jetblue introduced its Mint service back in 2014.

Click the link below for a youTube video on Jetblue’s Mint Suite!

JetBlue Mint Suite First Class

Stock Battle: American Airlines vs. JetBlue

July 3, 2018 / WIL BALDWIN

Airline stocks have plunged this week for two major reasons. First, trade tensions with China caused investors to start worrying about demand. Second, oil prices have started moving higher again, following a brief respite prior to last week’s OPEC meeting.

Not surprisingly, the airlines with the lowest profit margins have been hit hardest. These carriers are the most vulnerable to fuel price increases and demand shocks, as small changes in their profit margins can severely impact their earnings. During the past year, American Airlines (NASDAQ: AAL) has fallen into the bottom echelon of U.S. airlines in terms of profitability, and so its share price tumbled 7.5% in the first three days of this week.

Click the link below for the full story!

American Airlines vs JetBlue

Alaska Airlines Delaying Aircraft Deliveries

May 9, 2018 / WIL BALDWIN

Alaska Air (NYSE: ALK) has experienced severe margin compression over the past several quarters, due to a combination of rising fuel costs, stiff competition, and merger pains following its 2016 acquisition of Virgin America. However, management is laser-focused on rebuilding the company’s profitability. Toward that end, Alaska Airlines is set to reduce its growth rate until it starts hitting its margin and return on invested capital goals.

Last quarter, Alaska Airlines began taking concrete steps to align its fleet plan with its new target of 4% annual growth and $750 million of annual capital expenditures for 2019 and 2020. The carrier restructured its orders with Boeing (NYSE: BA), Airbus (NASDAQOTH: EADSY), and Embraer (NYSE: ERJ) to better fit its projected needs.

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Alaska Airlines Delaying Aircraft Deliveries

Alaska Airlines Adds Flights at JFK Airport

April 5, 2018 / WIL BALDWIN

On Wednesday, two years to the day after announcing that it would acquire Virgin America, Alaska Air (NYSE: ALK) rolled out some more changes to the route network it inherited from Virgin.

As part of the Virgin America deal, Alaska Air acquired 23 slots at New York’s JFK Airport. (Each slot allows one takeoff or one landing at a specified time between 6 a.m. and 10:59 p.m.) Virgin America used nearly all of these slots to operate flights to its main bases of San Francisco and Los Angeles. By contrast, Alaska Airlines plans to redeploy some of these slots to enable more flights to other West Coast cities where it has a strong presence — and where it faces less competition.

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Alaska Air Adds Flights at JFK

JetBlue Has a Plan for Beating Alaska Air

March 20, 2018 / WIL BALDWIN

Two years ago, JetBlue Airways (NASDAQ: JBLU) tried to buy trendy West Coast rival Virgin America. However, it ultimately lost a bidding war to Alaska Air (NYSE: ALK), which was eager to expand its strong position in the Pacific Northwest to the rest of the West Coast.

JetBlue responded with an aggressive plan to gain market share on transcontinental routes. The linchpin of this strategy was the expansion of Mint, JetBlue’s highly acclaimed premium service, to a slew of new routes. So far, this strategy has been extremely successful, and it is putting a ton of pressure on Alaska Air in the transcontinental market.

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JetBlue vs Alaska Air

JetBlue expanding operations from Long Beach Airport

March 23, 2016 / WIL BALDWIN

JetBlue expanding its operations from Long Beach Airport in California. The airline will be increasing the number of destinations and flights from its Long Beach Airport hub, which serves as the airlines focus city in southern California. JetBlue’s growth comes on the heals of the announcement of three new slots recent award to the air carrier at Long Beach. JetBlue will also increase its utilization of existing slots at the airport, increasing the number of nonstop cities served by one to twelve.

JetBlue expanding to Reno, Nevada

JetBlue will begin a new nonstop route from Long Beach to the northern Nevada city of Reno on the 15th of August with one daily flight. The flight will depart Long Beach at 12:15pm and arrive in Reno at 1:30pm operating as flight 42. The return service back will depart Reno at 2:15 pm and arrive back in southern California at 3:40 pm. As far as the increase in flight frequencies goes, JetBlue will adding daily flights on several of its current routes to meet increased customer demand. These increased frequencies include more flights to the Bay Area. The airline will add one extra daily flight to San Francisco International Airport beginning on the 15th of August, and an additional flight to Oakland International Airport beginning on the 16th of August. This will give JetBlue four daily roundtrips to both airports. The airline will also add another daily flight to Las Vegas McCarran International Airport beginning on the 15th of August. The new flights will be operated by additional Airbus A320 aircraft.

JetBlue expanding

Image from www.jetblue.com

Experience JetBlue with free snacks and drinks, nonstop entertainment, tons of legroom, and award winning service. There’s nothing but blue skies ahead.

For an upgraded flying experience, try JetBlue’s Mint service. Mint is a refreshing new premium option on coast to coast service. Mint service includes full lie flat seats, artisan dining options, top notch service, and revitalizing amenities that make sure you arrive in mint condition.

JetBlue expanding to Reno, Nevada

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