Airbus Taps JetBlue For 30 Firm, 5 Option and
14 Purchase-Place A320s
New York's John F. Kennedy Airport-based JetBlue ordered 30 Airbus
A320 narrowbodies, as well as options and purchase rights that
could total 48 aircraft.
The new order almost doubles the total number of A320s the carrier
has purchased since its start-up two years ago, to 63. In conjunction
with the airframe deal, the carrier signed up for $435 million
worth of IAE V2500 engines to power the planes, reaching $700
million if the options for five more aircraft and 13 purchase
places are all exercised.
The airline currently has 14 A320s in service, flying to 14 cities,
with plans to extend to 17 in the near future. It recently designated
Long Beach, California, as its second hub, with plans to operate
27 flights a day, reaching up to 15 destinations.
The airline will start receiving aircraft ordered today in 2004.
It will take deliveries on about 10 A320s a year until 2007. The
aircraft are outfitted in a single-class, 162-seat configuration.
Airbus executive VP John Leahy said the airframe OEM is proud
to work with such a success story as JetBlue, which, he said,
"will become the Southwest Airlines of the 21st Century --
only with better aircraft."
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