jetBlue Airways
JetBlue Airways took to the air on February 11, 2000 when it inaugurated its first flight to Fort Lauderdale, FL. By the end the year, the airline served 12 cities with a fleet of 10 brand new Airbus A320 aircraft.
The airline\nulls origins date back to 1993, when CEO David Neeleman sold his first airline, the Salt-Lake City based Morris Air, to Southwest Airlines. It was as a founder and President of Morris Air that David Neeleman proved that innovative, high-quality airline service coupled with low fares will attract a strong and loyal market.
Following the sale of Morris Air, Neeleman went on to help launch WestJet, a successful Canadian low-fare carrier, and to develop the e-ticketing system he had implemented at Morris Air into Open Skies, the world\nulls simplest airline reservation system. Neeleman sold Open Skies to Hewlett Packard in 1999.
With three successful aviation businesses under his belt, Neeleman decided the time was right to bring his airline formula to the world\nulls largest aviation market, New York City.
In July 1999, having secured a hand-picked management team and $130 million in capital funding from investors such as Weston Presidio Capital, George Soros and Chase Capital, Neeleman shook up the aviation industry with the announcement of his plan to launch a new airline that would bring "humanity back to air travel."
Timeline:
February 1999 CEO David Neeleman announces plans for his new airline.
April 1999 JetBlue (then known as "New Air") places a $4 billion order with Airbus Industrie for up 75 new A320 aircraft, and commences leasing arrangements for another eight aircraft.
July 1999 JetBlue reveals that all its aircraft will offer 24 channels of live satellite television at every seat, a first for the airline industry.
September 1999 JetBlue receives an unprecedented exemption for 75 take-off and landing slots at John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK).
December 4, 1999 JetBlue takes delivery of its first Airbus A320 aircraft.
February 3, 2000 The United States Department of Transport (DOT) issues JetBlue with a Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity, representing the successful completion of the airline\nulls application processes before both the DOT and the Federal Aviation Administration.
February 11, 2000 JetBlue inaugurates its first flight between JFK and Buffalo, NY.
February 17, 2000 JetBlue starts regular service between JFK and Buffalo New York.
March 16, 2000 JetBlue launches service between JFK and Tampa, FL.
June 21, 2000 JetBlue begins flights between JFK and Orlando, FL.
June 23, 2000 JetBlue takes delivery of its 5th Airbus A320 aircraft.
July 21, 2000 JetBlue commences flights between JFK and Ontario, CA, near Los Angeles.
August 3, 2000 JetBlue launches services from JFK to Rochester, NY and Oakland, CA, in the San Francisco Bay area.
September 7, 2000 JetBlue adds service between JFK and Burlington, VT.
October 18, 2000 JetBlue commences flights between JFK and West Palm Beach, FL.
November 10, 2000 JetBlue takes delivery of its 10th Airbus A320 aircraft.
November 17, 2000 JetBlue inaugurates service between JFK and Salt Lake City, UT.
November 18, 2000 JetBlue adds service between JFK and Fort Myers, FL.
The airline\nulls origins date back to 1993, when CEO David Neeleman sold his first airline, the Salt-Lake City based Morris Air, to Southwest Airlines. It was as a founder and President of Morris Air that David Neeleman proved that innovative, high-quality airline service coupled with low fares will attract a strong and loyal market.
Following the sale of Morris Air, Neeleman went on to help launch WestJet, a successful Canadian low-fare carrier, and to develop the e-ticketing system he had implemented at Morris Air into Open Skies, the world\nulls simplest airline reservation system. Neeleman sold Open Skies to Hewlett Packard in 1999.
With three successful aviation businesses under his belt, Neeleman decided the time was right to bring his airline formula to the world\nulls largest aviation market, New York City.
In July 1999, having secured a hand-picked management team and $130 million in capital funding from investors such as Weston Presidio Capital, George Soros and Chase Capital, Neeleman shook up the aviation industry with the announcement of his plan to launch a new airline that would bring "humanity back to air travel."
Timeline:
February 1999 CEO David Neeleman announces plans for his new airline.
April 1999 JetBlue (then known as "New Air") places a $4 billion order with Airbus Industrie for up 75 new A320 aircraft, and commences leasing arrangements for another eight aircraft.
July 1999 JetBlue reveals that all its aircraft will offer 24 channels of live satellite television at every seat, a first for the airline industry.
September 1999 JetBlue receives an unprecedented exemption for 75 take-off and landing slots at John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK).
December 4, 1999 JetBlue takes delivery of its first Airbus A320 aircraft.
February 3, 2000 The United States Department of Transport (DOT) issues JetBlue with a Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity, representing the successful completion of the airline\nulls application processes before both the DOT and the Federal Aviation Administration.
February 11, 2000 JetBlue inaugurates its first flight between JFK and Buffalo, NY.
February 17, 2000 JetBlue starts regular service between JFK and Buffalo New York.
March 16, 2000 JetBlue launches service between JFK and Tampa, FL.
June 21, 2000 JetBlue begins flights between JFK and Orlando, FL.
June 23, 2000 JetBlue takes delivery of its 5th Airbus A320 aircraft.
July 21, 2000 JetBlue commences flights between JFK and Ontario, CA, near Los Angeles.
August 3, 2000 JetBlue launches services from JFK to Rochester, NY and Oakland, CA, in the San Francisco Bay area.
September 7, 2000 JetBlue adds service between JFK and Burlington, VT.
October 18, 2000 JetBlue commences flights between JFK and West Palm Beach, FL.
November 10, 2000 JetBlue takes delivery of its 10th Airbus A320 aircraft.
November 17, 2000 JetBlue inaugurates service between JFK and Salt Lake City, UT.
November 18, 2000 JetBlue adds service between JFK and Fort Myers, FL.
