Big Jetblue Announcement In October

werdywerd · Sun Sep 16, 2007 9:08 pm

From what I am hearing internally, Dave Barger has stated to a few departments that Jetblue will be announcing something rather significant in the month of October. All types of rumors are going around between crewmembers internally. Anything from E-190's going to the West coast to a merger. All guesses among us at this point.

Any of you guys want to take a guess?

Burkhard · Sun Sep 16, 2007 9:20 pm

He bought Delta for 1$ ?

Stitch · Sun Sep 16, 2007 9:34 pm

Quoting Burkhard (Reply 1):
He bought Delta for 1$ ?

Or someone bought B6 for $2. I recall a recent rumor here about someone considering a purchase/merger of/with B6.

chrisnh · Sun Sep 16, 2007 9:38 pm

Mergers, in my view, aren't the kind of thing you telegraph like that a month ahead of time. So much can derail a merger, where it would be foolish to say the announcement is 'coming in October.' I'd side with something more 'operational' in nature.

Chris in NH

Rcardinale · Sun Sep 16, 2007 9:55 pm

they will take all gates at BOS and make it a large hub!! I can only wish

ERJ170 · Sun Sep 16, 2007 10:05 pm

Hmm.. a new hub at ONT with 320 and 190(*) based...

New Routes from ONT to BOS, IAD, FLL, MCO, SLC*, OAK*, SFO, SEA*, SAN*, DEN*, ALB, RDU, CLT, and RIC

Movement of LGB hub to ONT

Introduction of B-Lue online service using the current IFE (a la Virgin America)

New stations YYZ, YUL, and YYC with 3/1/1 daily flights using E190 from JFK (YYZ 1x daily to BOS)

New E90 service BOS/FLL-MSY/BNA.

Is that big enough?

AA388 · Sun Sep 16, 2007 10:14 pm

Why would it be a big deal if the E-190 went to the west coast?

-max

propilotjw · Sun Sep 16, 2007 10:44 pm

Quoting ERJ170 (Reply 5):
Hmm.. a new hub at ONT with 320 and 190(*) based...

New Routes from ONT to BOS, IAD, FLL, MCO, SLC*, OAK*, SFO, SEA*, SAN*, DEN*, ALB, RDU, CLT, and RIC

Movement of LGB hub to ONT

Introduction of B-Lue online service using the current IFE (a la Virgin America)

New stations YYZ, YUL, and YYC with 3/1/1 daily flights using E190 from JFK (YYZ 1x daily to BOS)

New E90 service BOS/FLL-MSY/BNA.

Is that big enough?

I thik your western predictions are off a bit. Why would you move all of the flying out of LGB after so much has been invested there?

ERJ170 · Sun Sep 16, 2007 10:46 pm

Quoting PropilotJW (Reply 7):
Why would you move all of the flying out of LGB after so much has been invested there?

I don't mean move the flights.. I mean just move the hub status to ONT.. LGB is at capacity for B6 and there aren't any more flights they can add without some of the other airline(s) departing... ONT, on the other hand, has plenty of space and is not restrictive..

BlueWingWalker · Sun Sep 16, 2007 10:58 pm

Everything I've heard "around the water cooler" (and beyond actually) is MCO as a base. I guess we'll all just have to wait and see.

avrocomet · Sun Sep 16, 2007 11:04 pm

Perhaps my Jetblue to YYZ post from a few weeks ago wasn't as irresponsible and fabricated on rumours as same had indicated.

FWAERJ · Sun Sep 16, 2007 11:13 pm

Here's my five bets on what will and won't happen at JetBlue in the near future:

Moving many of the E190s out west: 100%. The bugs have been worked out, and Barger has made many hints about moving some of the E190s out West.

Tests of buy-on-board: 100%. Buy-on-board, as long as it's restricted to meals and such, would be a good idea for B6. Some people don't have time for buying a meal at JFK. And since this is JetBlue, they could throw in some innovative twists... maybe B6 could be the first airline to offer fresh-grilled panini sandwiches (served with Terra Blue chips, of course) on board. Still, they need to stay away from selling Fossil watches and Vera Wang Princess perfume like Skybus does. Oh, and keep the snacks and Coke free, so you'll keep pax happy.

In-flight Wi-Fi: 100%. Virgin America is launching it next year, and Southwest is seriously considering it, too, so JetBlue will need it for competitive reasons. After all, you know that it's mainstream when every new laptop has it and when Apple put Wi-Fi and a web browser in the iPod touch. B6's LiveTV division already has the spectrum from the FCC and is developing the system, so I could see them launching it real soon. But will it be free to all pax or pay-per-use?

The long-rumored Midwestern focus city: 80%. Someday, B6 has to have a Midwestern focus city of some sort. Currently, B6 only serves ORD and CMH in the Midwest (I consider PIT to be East Coast), and they need more Midwestern cities. A strategically-placed Midwestern focus city like STL with about 8 Midwestern cities plus JFK, BOS, SFO, and LGB after the first 3 months of launch would work great.

Merger with Delta Air Lines: 0%. Dave Barger doesn't want JetBlue to merge with Delta. Period. Richard Anderson is salivating over B6, but Barger will do anything to stop a red widget from appearing on JetBlue's tails.

[Edited 2007-09-16 16:14:12]

JetBlueGuy2006 · Sun Sep 16, 2007 11:24 pm

Quoting FWAERJ (Reply 11):

The long-rumored Midwestern focus city: 80%. Someday, B6 has to have a Midwestern focus city of some sort. Currently, B6 only serves ORD and CMH in the Midwest (I consider PIT to be East Coast), and they need more Midwestern cities. A strategically-placed Midwestern focus city like STL with about 8 Midwestern cities plus JFK, BOS, SFO, and LGB after the first 3 months of launch would work great.

This would make sense. They didn't even serve the midwest for a long time, and if they opened a Midwestern Focus City, I would think they would bring more service to Ohio, Illinois and make a long awaited entry into Michigan

And while I agree they will probably move some of the E-jets out west, I would think they would start with about 5 and see how they do. It would have been nice to see them try and get the E-jet certifed as a "regional" jet for use at LGB, so they are not as slot restricted.

whappeh · Sun Sep 16, 2007 11:30 pm

Quoting BlueWingWalker (Reply 9):
Everything I've heard "around the water cooler" (and beyond actually) is MCO as a base. I guess we'll all just have to wait and see.

Which would mean MCO-PWM direct.... Big grin

Carls · Sun Sep 16, 2007 11:37 pm

They are about to place an order for a Long haul flight.
A330 is the one they will choose because fleet commonality. First Flight should be in May 2008.

toltommy · Sun Sep 16, 2007 11:49 pm

Quoting Carls (Reply 14):
They are about to place an order for a Long haul flight.
A330 is the one they will choose because fleet commonality. First Flight should be in May 2008.

That wouldnt surprise me. Someone has to chase the legacies over the pond. Midwest focus city works as well. Of course it may not be anything related to customers, and might just be a new crew base opening. But theres a lot of opportunity for B6 in the midwest, lets hope they start using those 190's to take advantage of some opportunities.

ERJ170 · Sun Sep 16, 2007 11:52 pm

Quoting FWAERJ (Reply 11):
The long-rumored Midwestern focus city: 80%. Someday, B6 has to have a Midwestern focus city of some sort. Currently, B6 only serves ORD and CMH in the Midwest (I consider PIT to be East Coast), and they need more Midwestern cities. A strategically-placed Midwestern focus city like STL with about 8 Midwestern cities plus JFK, BOS, SFO, and LGB after the first 3 months of launch would work great.

I disagree. Long-rumored Midwest focus city: 20%. Do they really need it to serve more midwest cities? No!! They could just as easily serve the Midwestern cities from all their current hubs and focus cities efficiently with the E90. Having a midwestern hub/focus city just for midwestern cities is inefficient. Like I said many times before, anything jetBlue wants to do in the midwest, they can do it from their east and west coast hubs and focus cities.. just like they are doing with Chicago...

Dazed767 · Mon Sep 17, 2007 12:03 am

Quoting BlueWingWalker (Reply 9):
Everything I've heard "around the water cooler" (and beyond actually) is MCO as a base. I guess we'll all just have to wait and see.

Scoop up those empty airtran gates next door before WN does, then it could happen.

thirteenright · Mon Sep 17, 2007 12:10 am

Quoting BlueWingWalker (Reply 9):
Everything I've heard "around the water cooler" (and beyond actually) is MCO as a base. I guess we'll all just have to wait and see.

I'd bet money on this one. Its long been rumored. I see a base announcement coupled with expansion of flights.

Quoting Carls (Reply 14):
They are about to place an order for a Long haul flight.
A330 is the one they will choose because fleet commonality. First Flight should be in May 2008.

I doubt B6 is ready for a 3rd fleet type.

SkyyMaster · Mon Sep 17, 2007 12:14 am

Given that B6 has already announced a/c delivery slow downs and is selling a handful of 320's, I can't see where a "huge" expansion would happen anywhere. I agree no one hints of a merger a month ahead of time, especially when the airline, in this case B6, would probably be the buyee and not the buyer unless they are looking at someone smaller. More than likely it just going to be a few new routes, maybe shifting a few flights off of JFK in anticipation of what is likely to be mandated reductions by the FAA. Otherwise, I think it sounds a lot like another sensational a.net "what if" thread.

wedgetail737 · Mon Sep 17, 2007 12:15 am

I would love to see additional OAK service. Maybe they will make OAK another west coast hub and start flying to SAN, SEA, ONT, SLC, DEN, etc. with E-190's. There are one or two open or somewhat open gates in T1, even with the construction that's consumed gates 8 through 12.

AA388 · Mon Sep 17, 2007 12:29 am

Quoting Carls (Reply 14):
They are about to place an order for a Long haul flight.
A330 is the one they will choose because fleet commonality. First Flight should be in May 2008.

If this was to happen would the planes be configured in all coach? What would the seat pitch and width be? And where would they fly? Major airports or secondary ones?

-max

atlaaron · Mon Sep 17, 2007 12:32 am

Quoting FWAERJ (Reply 11):
Richard Anderson is salivating over B6

Do you have anything to base this statement on?

iad51fl · Mon Sep 17, 2007 12:36 am

Working codeshare or possible merge of Virgin America and B6

Chris

AsstChiefMark · Mon Sep 17, 2007 12:38 am

MSP MSP MSP MSP

Come on, MSP!

isitsafenow · Mon Sep 17, 2007 12:42 am

Me thinks a merger with Frontier could be the news. Frontier needs something. Their balance sheet isn't what it used
to be.
safe

Jerseyguy · Mon Sep 17, 2007 12:56 am

It could be on-board internet they were supposed to announce that by the end of the year Jetblue To Offer Onboard Internet By End Of 2007 (by JerseyGuy Jul 4 2007 in Civil Aviation)

A new hub would be nice for people going west from cities that would have to back track to JFK (ie BNA, TPA, MCO, JAX, and maybe even CLT) and they do need an alternate incase of a JFK blizzard/hurricane or any other major disruption maker.

eyflyer88 · Mon Sep 17, 2007 1:11 am

Quoting AA388 (Reply 21):
Major airports or secondary ones?

Maybe like STN to compete with MAXjet/EOS Silly

gilesdavies · Mon Sep 17, 2007 1:17 am

It will either be about a merger with Virgin America...

Or the one I have my money on, is that they will be launching TransAtlantic flights to Europe, when Open Skies starts next year...

There is a confirmed but un-named order for 12 A330's and options for 18 more, on EADS books. I bet this is Jet Blue!

There have also been rumours going around BAA that they have been in talks with Jet Blue about starting routes from either LGW or STN, so all the parts of jigsaw puzzle are now beginning to fall in place!

JBLASINI · Mon Sep 17, 2007 1:26 am

I'VE GOT IT,,,,,I'VE GOT IT.....
THEY ARE GOING TO MERGE WITH VIRGIN AMERICA.......AAAND IN A VERY NEAR FUTURE....when DELTA is finally out of the way, I wish, they are going to buy A330-300's(look at AirAsiaX and OasisHongKong) and start crossing the Atlantic from JFK to Munich and Cologne and Madrid the top low cost carriers hiubs in Europe. NOT London.
Josef

jetbluefan1 · Mon Sep 17, 2007 1:29 am

I'd put my money on the on-board sales coupled with a formal announcement of MCO as a focus city.

JetBluefan1

jetbluefan1 · Mon Sep 17, 2007 1:30 am

And maybe a few E190's out West...

AlitaliaMD11 · Mon Sep 17, 2007 2:00 am

Turning more and more into a long shot but... An expansion at SWF?

SpencerII · Mon Sep 17, 2007 2:02 am

I do believe you are going to see B6 re-deploy part of their operations to a Midwest or WestCoast base so as not to be so reliant on JFK- with all it's traffic & wx problems. They have got to do something about their on-time integrity, and need to do something to cut their rising costs with the performance statistics they are racking up at JFK.

I do believe you are going to see them reach an agreement with someone such as X-Jet for code sharing and feed into an airport "ripe" for a hub & spoke operation. (I do believe AUS is somewhere near target for a number of carriers considering this very move- Thats not to say it will be B6 but in the very near future I think you will see AUS become a hub for someone & if not a hub a major major focus city)

If B6 is to be a profitable carrier in the future, they cannot be so reliant on the NorthEast (BOS included) for revenue feed,
as the Weather in the NE has had a major detrimental effect on their balance sheets. The WX hiccups last winter completely stopped revenue stream for them, and having an alternate feed to keep their aircraft moving will helpt to strengthen their place in the market.

F9Animal · Mon Sep 17, 2007 2:08 am

Quoting Werdywerd (Thread starter):
From what I am hearing internally, Dave Barger has stated to a few departments that Jetblue will be announcing something rather significant in the month of October. All types of rumors are going around between crewmembers internally. Anything from E-190's going to the West coast to a merger. All guesses among us at this point.

Any of you guys want to take a guess?

I sure hope to see some of those good looking E-190's here on the west coast!!! That would be a nice announcement!

dutchjet · Mon Sep 17, 2007 2:42 am

Quoting JetBluefan1 (Reply 30):
I'd put my money on the on-board sales coupled with a formal announcement of MCO as a focus city.

JetBluefan1

I agree.

Quoting JetBluefan1 (Reply 31):
And maybe a few E190's out West...

Maybe.

And inflight internet.

My guesses.

------------------------------

Longhaul would be a huge risk for JetBlue, they are not ready financially or otherwise to take this on.

As for any type of merger, there would be little advance chat by the watercooler among the staff, lets think about SEC rules and the like.

Another hub/focus city......while I realize that JetBlue has lots of airplanes on order, they are trying to limit growth and are selling off some airplanes as new airplanes are delivered, so I dont know if they have the equipment to operate an expanded route system with another hub.

lhpdx · Mon Sep 17, 2007 2:48 am

They should expand out of PDX......................

737DAB320 · Mon Sep 17, 2007 2:49 am

Quoting IAD51FL (Reply 23):
possible merge of Virgin America and B6

Quoting Gilesdavies (Reply 28):
It will either be about a merger with Virgin America...

Quoting JBLASINI (Reply 29):
THEY ARE GOING TO MERGE WITH VIRGIN AMERICA

Do you all honestly believe Virgin America would merge already after all the work they did to get clearance to fly? A merger is probably the last thing on Virgin America's mind. This isn't going to happen.

DL777LAX · Mon Sep 17, 2007 2:51 am

I wouldn't be suprised if jetBlue ordered 330s, I just don't think that they would do that at this point in time. I think its just an expansion of orlando and IAD. IAD seems ripe for the picking, with only a limited WN and FL presence. Maybe Blue will do what Independnce couldn't do out of Dulles, and make a large LCC hub there. Just my thoughts.

SpencerII · Mon Sep 17, 2007 2:53 am

Quoting LHPDX (Reply 36):
They should expand out of PDX......................

To Where? And the Cash Rich Eskimo would really react. As well as WN who keeps PDX fares in check.

FWAERJ · Mon Sep 17, 2007 3:05 am

Quoting Carls (Reply 14):
They are about to place an order for a Long haul flight.
A330 is the one they will choose because fleet commonality. First Flight should be in May 2008.

Quoting Gilesdavies (Reply 28):
There have also been rumours going around BAA that they have been in talks with Jet Blue about starting routes from either LGW or STN, so all the parts of jigsaw puzzle are now beginning to fall in place!

I wouldn't be surprised... but some questions remain:

-Would B6 offer a business class product on trans-Atlantic routes, or would it be one-class only like on the domestic routes?
-Would meals be served on the flight, or would it be buy-on-board? After all, UA and AA don't provide meals on those 8+ hour ORD-HNL flights.
-Who would get the engine order: P&W, GE, or RR? (I'm hoping for Rolls-Royce... I have a friend who works for them, plus the Trent 700 is the best engine for the A330.)
-And finally, would the first A330 be named "Big Blue"?

AsstChiefMark · Mon Sep 17, 2007 3:10 am

Quoting JetBluefan1 (Reply 30):
I'd put my money on the on-board sales coupled with a formal announcement of MCO as a focus city.

That's a "big announcement?"

dragonflyer · Mon Sep 17, 2007 3:21 am

My prediction for the announcement in October covering many departments....NEW UNIFORMS! yes

eaa3 · Mon Sep 17, 2007 3:28 am

They've decided that in addition to being a 'low cost carries' they will become a 'low fare carrier' as well i.e. start charging lower fares than the majors.

Not that I don't love flying Jetblue. It's just that their fares always seem to be the same or higher than AA, UA, NW, DL and so forth.

JetJock22 · Mon Sep 17, 2007 3:31 am

Quoting JetBluefan1 (Reply 30):
I'd put my money on the on-board sales coupled with a formal announcement of MCO as a focus city.

I agree 100%. I think you may also see a reduction in some cities ie. PIT, CMH (hope not though), and maybe even a complete pull out of a few cities, ie BNA, TUS, HPN or SWF but not both. I would also expect announcements of more connect the dots service to Florida.

As far as a merger/buyout goes, I have heard rumor on several occasisons from people that B6 will be buying Frontier and to expect the announcement in late October or early November. Whether it is true or not we will just have to wait and see. From a fleet type commonality it makes sense, from a location standpoint it makes sense (run the 190's to the west coast from DEN and the 319's to the east coast and places in between) but I am not sure how much sense it makes from a monetary standpoint.

I would be more willing to be that the big announcement is going to be a combination of a base in MCO, reduction in service to some markets, more connect the dots, and a shift away from JFK and focusing on Boston, Orlando, and Dulles.

Lastly, as far as a new widebody A/C type goes, I heard that rumor too, but I heard from a guy in blue with bars on his shoulders that it will be the 787 in early to mid 2009. stirthepot

lightsaber · Mon Sep 17, 2007 3:37 am

Quoting Stitch (Reply 2):
I recall a recent rumor here about someone considering a purchase/merger of/with B6.

The day a.net stops having those rumors... (especially the quarterly F9/B6 rumor...)

Quoting AA388 (Reply 6):
Why would it be a big deal if the E-190 went to the west coast?

Oh, I wish! hyper

Quoting BlueWingWalker (Reply 9):
Everything I've heard "around the water cooler" (and beyond actually) is MCO as a base.

Yawn. But the most likely announcement. Wink

Sorry, but in my mind it already is a focus city in everything bur the formality!

Quoting AsstChiefMark (Reply 24):
Come on, MSP!

Now that would be big news!

Is it just me, or is B6 not generating the buzz they used to? They need to get their PR machine back up to speed!

Lightsaber

atlaaron · Mon Sep 17, 2007 3:56 am

Quoting Eaa3 (Reply 43):
It's just that their fares always seem to be the same or higher than AA, UA, NW, DL and so forth.

Well that is because the majors lower their fares to B6 levels. B6 certainly brings fares down when they enter a martket. Just look at what they have done at PIT.

SkyyMaster · Mon Sep 17, 2007 4:03 am

Quoting Lightsaber (Reply 45):
The day a.net stops having those rumors...

Reminds me of the big rumor a month or so ago about Airtran. It went on for weeks and all it amounted to was a handful of seasonal, weekly flights. People do love to speculate.

eyflyer88 · Mon Sep 17, 2007 4:25 am

Quoting Eaa3 (Reply 43):
Not that I don't love flying Jetblue. It's just that their fares always seem to be the same or higher than AA, UA, NW, DL and so forth.

Yeah that is true, but it also depends on when your travelling. But I have noticed that B6 fares are sometimes $100+ than the other carriers on certain routes.

SANFan · Mon Sep 17, 2007 4:42 am

Hopefully continued expansion from San Diego will be part of the "big news" next month. The trend has started and if some of the other thoughts expressed already on this thread are accurate (e.g., 190s finally moving west, build-up in Florida -- either FLL or MCO) I expect SAN should be a fairly major part of it.

In fact, I will stay with my prediction that, as opposed to the suggestions that ONT will become the new focus city (rather than LGB as per reply #5) or OAK, as in reply #20 (which is already a focus city), SAN will be the next west coast focus city, receiving at least new n/s to either MCO or FLL (or both Wink

) plus become a major player in the 190's western appearance.

Lindbergh Field now has 6 daily B6 departures to 4 destinations and has seemed to be a successful station for Blue and I think it's about to be "upgraded". (It doesn't hurt that B6 has seen what VX has done so far and SAN is to be Virgin's next stop; also, Lindbergh is getting more and more crowded and this would be an excellent time for Blue to grow there while they still can!)

I think a new midwest city, such as STL, could very well happen but I don't think it will be a focus city; I don't think it's necessary. If a sub-fleet of 190s is based in the west and in the east, as long as there is even a single route across the country such as SAN-STL-JFK to move the western 190s to mx and back (until a western mx base is established), I think they will be fine.

I don't feel B6 is ready yet for a huge new a/c order, another new fleet addition, or overseas expansion. I think their focus will be on continued slow and steady domestic growth (and consolidation), with mainly P-2-P additions between existing stations. Wi-Fi will undoubtedly happen next year as well.

(In fact, I have a good feeling that October will be a banner month for announcements in San Diego... Wink

)

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