JetBlue Honors 100th Anniversary of the First U.S. Transcontinental Flight Between Long Beach, California and Sheepshead Bay, New York with Special $100 Fare

LONG BEACH, Calif., Dec. 6, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- JetBlue Airways (Nasdaq: JBLU), New York's Hometown Airline and Long Beach Airport's largest carrier, today is excited to celebrate a landmark moment in aviation history: the 100th anniversary of the first transcontinental flight, which departed Sheepshead Bay, New York at 4:30 p.m. on September 17, 1911 and landed in Long Beach, California – JetBlue's current West Coast base of operations – on December 10, 1911. To celebrate, JetBlue today is offering $100 fares each way between New York's JFK and Long Beach (LGB), available for purchase exclusively on jetblue.com for Tuesday and Wednesday travel between January 10 and January 31, 2012 (a).

(Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20110404/NY76997LOGO )

In addition to the special fare, JetBlue is partnering with Long Beach Airport and the City of Long Beach to celebrate the "Transcontinental Centennial," at the Long Beach Airport today to preview a 1/3 scale replica of the plane which transited the nation 100 years ago, the "Vin Fiz," which will then make its way to the Long Beach Arena for installation and opening on the 10th. Other special guests will include Craig Fuller, President and CEO of Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association (AOPA) and Jim Lloyd, who constructed a replica plane and recreated the flight landing in Long Beach on the 75th anniversary.

"As Long Beach's low fare, hometown airline, we are thrilled to share our love for the city's rich aviation history by offering this special 100th anniversary $100 transcon fare," said JetBlue's Senior Vice President of Government Affairs & Associate General Counsel Robert Land. "It was the achievements of pioneers like Cal Rodgers, in Long Beach, who paved the way for today's conveniences in air travel. JetBlue is honored to celebrate aviation's history in Long Beach and be part of its exciting future as we watch the new, modern passenger concourse take shape."

"This centennial celebration adds to Long Beach's already storied aviation heritage," Long Beach Mayor Bob Foster said. "As we move forward, the Long Beach Airport improvements will continue to build upon this legacy with even more convenience, sustainable business practices and a powerful role as an economic engine for the entire region."

"Since the flight of the Vin Fiz we have come a long way, and your hometown airport is poised to move into the future while keeping the amenities that make LGB special," remarked Long Beach Airport Director Mario Rodriguez.

"Upon receiving the Aero Club of America Gold Medal from Pres. William Taft for completing the First Transcontinental Flight in Long Beach, Rodgers remarked on December 13, 1911: 'I expect to see the time when we shall be carrying passengers in flying machines from New York to the Pacific Coast [sic] an average of around a hundred miles an hour. That cannot be done until some way is devised to box in the passengers against the wind.' Today we celebrate with Jet Blue for realizing Rodgers' dream of flying from New York to Long Beach -- at more than 100 miles an hour -- in first class airplanes that not only keep passengers from the wind, but bring them to a first class airport that is being improved as we speak. Long Beach has much to celebrate," said Long Beach Councilwoman Gerrie Schipske.

JetBlue boasts significantly shorter flying times than the first transcontinental flight's circuitous 4,000 mile journey to Long Beach, which took nearly three months to complete. Today's average flight between New York's JFK and Long Beach, California clocks in at five hours and 44 minutes (b), and includes upgraded onboard entertainment options, like 36 free channels of DirecTV and 100 channels of SiriusXM radio (c).

JetBlue is celebrating its 10th anniversary with service to Long Beach this year while the airport celebrates a century of high flying. JetBlue is the largest airline out of Long Beach, California, offering nonstop service to 13 cities, including Anchorage, Austin, Boston, Chicago Las Vegas, New York's JFK, Oakland, Portland (Oregon), Sacramento, Salt Lake City, San Francisco, Seattle, and Washington, DC.

About JetBlue Airways       
JetBlue is known for its award-winning service and free TV as much as its low fares, offering the most legroom in coach of any U.S. airline (based on average fleet-wide seat pitch) and super-spacious Even More Legroom seats. JetBlue is also America's first and only airline to offer its own Customer Bill of Rights, with meaningful and specific compensation for customers inconvenienced by service disruptions within JetBlue's control. Visit www.jetblue.com/promise for details. JetBlue serves 68 cities with 650 daily flights and later this year plans to introduce service to St. Croix and St. Thomas in the U.S. Virgin Islands.  With JetBlue, all seats are assigned, all fares are one-way, and an overnight stay is never required. For information or reservations call 1-800-JET-BLUE (1-800-538-2583), TTY/TDD 1-800-336-5530 or visit www.jetblue.com.

(a) Fares valid 12/6/11 (the earlier of 11:59 PM ET or local) for flights between New York, NY (JFK) and Long Beach, CA (LGB) on Tues. and Wed. only between 1/10/12 – 1/31/12.  Fares must be purchased at jetblue.com and are subject to availability; valid for new bookings only; may change without notice; must be purchased at time of reservation; and are one-way, nonrefundable and nontransferable. Fares are not available for purchase via Online Travel Agencies Orbitz, Travelocity, Expedia, or Priceline.  Fares do not include:  Passenger Facility Charges up to $9.00 each way; September 11 Security Fees up to $5.00 each way; and Federal Segment Taxes of $3.70 per domestic segment. Fares also do not include $35 second bag fee, fees for oversized/overweight/extra baggage, and other fees for products/services sold separately.  $15 fee applies to fares (not Award flights) purchased by phone or at a JetBlue ticket office. Taxes/fees must be paid at time of purchase and are subject to change as required by law. Cancellations/changes must be made prior to scheduled departure (otherwise all money for fare is forfeited) by visiting jetblue.com, or calling 1-800-JETBLUE (1-800-538-2583), or for hearing/speech impediments, TTY/TDD 1-800-336-5530. $100 change/cancel fee per person will apply, and for changes, there may be a fare adjustment. Cancellations receive JetBlue travel credit, valid for one year. For Award flight cancellations, TrueBlue points will be re-deposited to the Member's account.  Proper documentation required for boarding.  Other restrictions apply; see jetblue.com/about/legal/legal.asp.

(b) Subject to time of day and season

(c) Live satellite TV and radio programming is not available on flights outside the continental U.S.

SOURCE JetBlue Airways