More "Free" A320's for JetBlue!

[Flying Freddie]

JetBlue Airways to Exercise 30 Additional Airbus Options
Tuesday June 8, 7:30 am ET
New Deal Will Increase Low-Fare Carrier's Total Airbus Fleet to as Many as 233 Aircraft by 2012

NEW YORK, June 8, 2004 (PRIMEZONE) -- JetBlue Airways Corporation (NasdaqNM:JBLU - News) announced today it has signed a contract with Airbus to exercise future options on 30 new A320 aircraft.

In addition to the 60 aircraft already delivered, the carrier now has 123 A320s on firm order backlog with options for a further 50 new aircraft. JetBlue expects to take delivery of these A320s at a rate of up to 17 aircraft per year until 2012.

``As the sixth largest A320 operator in the world as measured by weekly departures, we're very excited to add an additional 30 Airbus aircraft to our fleet,'' said David Neeleman, CEO of JetBlue Airways. ``We continue to see a strong demand for more flights from our loyal customer base. Today's announcement of 30 more IAE-powered A320s will help us meet that demand by providing the JetBlue experience to more customers around the country.'' ``This agreement will make JetBlue our fourth largest airline customer in the world, in terms of numbers of aircraft ordered,'' said Noel Forgeard, Airbus President and Chief Executive Officer. ``The fact that a low-fare carrier holds this stature speaks volumes of the value of the A320 Family in the low-cost sector. JetBlue continues to be a leader in the recovery and strengthening of the U.S. market, and we are proud to be a partner in their success.''

 

[holdon]

More Midwest flying to come?, with the addition of 17 A320/year and starting mid-late next year 18 E190/year total of 35 A/C per year for awhile. There will be more cities in the MidWest that will get service.

 

[jetblue320]

Just Curious

One of my FO's brought something up the other day when we were talking about A320's in general. He made a statement that no carrier that he knew of ever went out of business flying A320's. Just curious, can anyone think of any?

Thanks

 

[Skygod]

It sure sounds good . . . and I wish it were true . . . but what about Kiwi International, Cretan Airlines, Braniff, Ansett Australia, Swissair, Midway . . . I think I'll stop there. Air Canada, US Airways, and United also all fly A-320's. But I heard they had to pay for 'em . . .

 

[General Lee]

Jetblue320,


Goodjet--the first LCC in Sweeden. Canada 3000.(They had A319s, A320s, A330s, and 757s) Braniff.(Didn't they have them at the end?) Sabena.

Bye Bye--General Lee

 

[Skygod]

The 'new' Braniff was the first US operator of the V2500-powered A320-231. These planes were from the original Pan Am order, and are now at America West. I think.

In additon to SABENA, how 'bout Inter European, Excalibur Airways, Flitestar, and Leisure Air. Maybe the Eye-tailain government will not let Alitalia fail, but they do fly A-320's and they have lost a lot of money . . .

 

[skippy767]

um they do not get them free!!!!

Just wanted to point out JET BLue does pay for the airplanes in a graduated lease program.
This is proved by the annual report which states aircraft rent. IN this program JetBlue starts out by paying less at the start of the lease I heard around 2% and then ends up paying 13% later on in the years.
Does anyone really know the numbers?

 

[Skygod]

Kinda close . . . actually it is a 60/40 hedged mix of leased and owned airframe finance packages.

The leases are a rent-to-buy program from the same company that supplies our computers and office furniture, weekly payments in cash to a small place in Queens. The planes we own are currently financed at 0% interest. They are all on David Neeleman's credit cards, and he keeps switching the balance every six months to another 0% promotional rate on a new card offer he gets in mail. I've heard that based on the RAF program during the Battle of Britain, all employees are going to be asked to bring aluminium pots and pans to work -- and we'll melt them down behind terminal 6 for a 20% you-supply-da-metal-we-build-da-rest discount from Airbus on the next 30 planes. Cool.

 

[AA717driver]

I don't believe Braniff ever actually operated the 320's. They may have made it to the property, though.TC

 

[Skygod]

Hello AA717,

From taking a quick look in the books, it seems that Braniff (II) contracted to lease 50 A320s from GPA Leasing in Ireland. Heady stuff. Several were delivered, but only two were ever flown. N901BN delivered in July 89, Braniff (II) files chapter 11 on September 28th that year.

http://www.airliners.net/open.file/193840/M/

 

[CHQ Pilot]

A good family friend was one of the acceptance Captains on the A320 for Braniff (III was it?). Although they did not operate them very long, I do remember seeing him at DCA right after they had acquired them. I believe he said they did their initial training at Pan Am in Florida, possibly with some of the first A320 pilots of NWA (I remember something like that because he said their manuals were better, especially for an old guy).

 

[PSL]

LAir : Leisure Air flew A320s out of BDL years ago ...

I think they went out of business sometime around 1994

 

[pb4ufly]

Circa 1990



Braniff ???