JetBlue Comes to Texas

[Kelley USA]

JetBlue adds service from New York to Austin

Star-Telegram

JetBlue Airways, the low-fare carrier whose free satellite TV has earned praise from customers, said Tuesday it will launch its first Texas service -- but not to D/FW Airport.

The New York-based carrier said it will launch three daily flights between New York’s John F. Kennedy Airport and Austin beginning Jan. 19. The carrier also announced it will launch service to Boston and Richmond, Va., and increase service to Buffalo, N.Y., and Burlington, Vt.

"New Yorkers have demanded JetBlue’s low-fare, nonstop service to the business and cultural centers in Austin, Boston and Richmond for some time now," said David Neeleman, JetBlue chief executive.

JetBlue will fly the service on new Embraer 190 100-seat airplanes. The planes will offer DirecTV programs, XM satellite radio, and movie selections.

JetBlue will begin the Austin service with an introductory sale fare of $79 each way. This sale fare must be purchased by Oct. 31, for travel between Jan. 19 and Feb. 14, 2006. The carrier’s regular fares in these markets will range from $129 to $299 each way.

"We are excited that JetBlue has chosen Austin to offer their high-quality, low-cost, nonstop service to such popular destinations as New York and Boston," said Austin Mayor Will Wynn. "This new service will stimulate more travel to and from our great city, and we look forward to providing travelers with more direct low fares to two of the biggest markets."

D/FW Airport has tried in the past to recruit JetBlue. The airline has said it has no plans to launch service at D/FW any time soon.

[Kelley USA]

From DMN:

JetBlue Airways Corp. is coming to Texas — but not North Texas, which is sad news for fans of the upstart low-cost carrier. JetBlue will launch service from Austin’s Bergstrom Airport on Jan. 19 to its major hub at New York’s JFK International Airport.

JetBlue will use its new Embraer 190 aircraft, which has 100 seats and is considered one of the most economical aircraft ever built. The plane will feature JetBlue’s signature satellite television service in each seat.

As for Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport, it may be a long time before JetBlue’s distinctive blue-and-white planes get there. JetBlue spokeswoman Jenny Dervin said that while Dallas “is a very interesting city” for the carrier, most of its new routes will be aimed at “underserved, overpriced” cities. “Dallas already has a lot of service to New York,” she said. Not to mention a carrier with 83 percent market share in the form of American Airlines Inc., which doesn’t take kindly to low-cost carriers squatting on its most profitable routes.

[CARTMAN]

Wow! and American says they are losing money. Wasn't the excuse at first all routes from DFW would be effected by Wright? Now, its the small airports that would be effected by The Wright Amendment. Damn, JefBlue really should have been coming here first.

[Kelley USA]

American has such a strong hold at DFW- I think it scares away many potential airlines. I think our hope will be if AirTran can continue to expand- and if Spirit can come in and do well..

[GuerillaBlack]

JetBlue flies from Houston-Hobby, too.

[msutton]

I hope they get to Dallas in the next couple of years. Yeah, we have service between NYC and Laguardia, but I would fly JetBlue in a heartbeat over any of the current providers.