JetBlue Service From Westchester Takes Off March 2

[Guest]

JetBlue service from Westchester to Florida takes off March 28

By Caren Halbfinger

The Journal News

(Original Publication: January 24, 2007)

Frequent fliers, True Blue members and anyone who wants to try the airline famous for its seat-back TVs and roomy leather seats can now book a JetBlue flight from Westchester to one of three Florida cities in the spring.

The airline's chief executive officer told The Journal News yesterday that service from the county airport will take off March 28, with one daily flight to Orlando. On April 2, JetBlue will add a second flight to Orlando and service to South Florida with one daily flight each to West Palm Beach and Fort Lauderdale.

"We are the largest airline from New York to Florida, with 70 flights a day," JetBlue CEO David Neeleman said by telephone. "A lot of the customers we have are in Westchester County. They've asked us about flying from Westchester, and we wanted to accommodate them."

Neeleman, who flies frequently on JetBlue, said he had been personally asked by fellow travelers time and again when JetBlue would serve Westchester. Neeleman said he plans to increase service over time to 10 daily flights to these Florida cities, and then branch out to other Florida destinations. He said fares would start at $99 for Orlando and $79 to West Palm Beach and Fort Lauderdale, with a top fare of $299.

JetBlue fans were nearly giddy with glee when reached for comment yesterday. At least a dozen have called or e-mailed The Journal News daily since the paper broke the news that JetBlue planned to begin doing business in Westchester, seeking the details on when and where the airline would start flying.

"That's awesome," said Seth Granville, 27, a Hartsdale firefighter and self-described JetBlue fan and stockholder, who had just gotten off a JetBlue flight to Los Angeles and spoke between bites of an In-N-Out burger. "I can't wait. I'll be on the Web booking the first flight. I plan on being on their inaugural flight. That's something the true JetBlue fans do. A lot of my friends and co-workers are really looking forward to it. It's going to add a tremendous convenience to Westchester and Fairfield County residents. This is the best - to be able to drive to West-chester County Airport and fly out of here."

Although the airport lottery rules call for all airlines to begin flying within 60 days, in practice, it often takes longer than that to initiate new service. Todd Burke, a JetBlue spokesman, said March 28 was the first day the airline had aircraft available and the airport "graciously agreed to our request to begin service on that date."

Asked whether JetBlue was capitalizing on the groundwork laid by AirTran, which started flying from Westchester to four Florida cities in April and has had heavy bookings, Neeleman said JetBlue was just serving its customers. Asked whether JetBlue's decision to overlap with AirTran in serving Orlando and West Palm Beach could lead to a price war with one airline bloodied by the battle, Neeleman said:

"New York's our market. These are our customers. Customers always benefit from a price war. This is a very desirable airport. I know we will do well. I'm not sure about them. You'll have to ask them."

As of March 6, AirTran will have a dozen daily flights to Orlando, West Palm Beach, Tampa, Fort Myers and Atlanta, and it has no plans to throw in the towel. AirTran flights are on 117-seat Boeing 717s, while Jetblue aircraft are the 150-seat Airbus A320.

"We feel good; we feel our product will stack up with anyone's," said John Kirby, director of strategic planning and scheduling for AirTran. "We're committed to serving Westchester County Airport."

Kirby agreed competition was good from a consumer's standpoint, but wondered about JetBlue's strategy.

"I believe we'll have a superior schedule," he said, pointing to the earlier and more frequent departures and the quick turnaround of aircraft in his schedule, which helps keep costs down. "You have to question why JetBlue is going into the markets we're in, whether they're trying to hurt someone rather than trying to make money."

Neeleman said customers who had already booked their flights from John F. Kennedy International Airport or Stewart International Airport but who preferred to fly from Westchester County Airport would be able to change their flights at no charge.

"I wish they were starting sooner," said Jack Pisello, 81, of Brewster, who booked a ticket to Fort Lauderdale and plans to leave in early March from Kennedy International Airport. "That's all I fly with. I love it. Westchester is better for me, because it's right around the corner."

[TR54 239]

Note the Quote inside the article from Seth !!

[JM15 386]

haha I see it now. I didn't catch it the first time, pretty cool Seth

Edited January 25, 2007 by JM15

[Guest]

Anyone see the paper today? NYTimes has a story about Stewart Airport in the Metro Section.

The Port Authority is buying Stewart Airport and hopes to triple passenger traffic over a VERY short period of time. Apparently, Stewart is actually larger than Newark in terms of runway space. It's going to be the 4th major hub for the New York area, passengers and cargo.

jetBlue flys from Stewart as well, will this impact the number and frequency of flights from W.C.?

Edited January 25, 2007 by lfdR1

[x635 4,066]

Note the  Quote inside the article from Seth !!

←

LOL, I really was inbetween bites of an In-N-Out burger too when she called!

I can't wait to fly out og HPN! I'm hoping one day they will do Boston or Chicago.

I doubt LA would be do-able because of weight restrictions- any aviation buffs on here know anything about that?

[dadbo46 50]

First flight on Jet Blue from HPN to MCO is sold out.

[SRS131EMTFF 471]

I hope they add different flights on Jet Blue to other locations.......this is good but more would be better