JetBlue Launches Fort Lauderdale-Medellin Nonstop

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FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla., June 13, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- JetBlue Airways (Nasdaq: JBLU) today launches daily nonstop service between Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport (FLL) and Jose Maria Cordova International Airport in Medellin, Colombia (MDE).  To celebrate the airline's 79th destination, today through June 17, flights from Fort Lauderdale are on sale from $164 one way for travel between September 5 and November 7, 2013 (blackout dates apply) (a). Destinations in Latin America and the Caribbean now make up almost one-third of JetBlue's route network. Medellin, Colombia's second largest city and a vibrant commercial and cultural center, is JetBlue's 79th destination and its third destination in Colombia. JetBlue also offers nonstop service between Bogota and both Fort Lauderdale and Orlando, Florida, as well as nonstop service between Cartagena, Colombia and New York's John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK).

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"It's great to see customers have embraced JetBlue's low fares and great service on our flights to Colombia from Fort Lauderdale, Orlando and New York. Our Medellin service adds to our successful franchise in Colombia," said Scott Laurence, vice president of network planning for JetBlue Airways. "Customers continue to choose JetBlue and allow us to expand and grow in Colombia."

With the launch, JetBlue will offer at least 24 weekly flights to Colombia.  As the capital of the Colombian state of Antioquia, Medellin is South America's mile-high city, sitting 5,000 feet above sea level. At this altitude, the climate is mild year round at an average of 72 F (22 C). "JetBlue's addition of new nonstop service between the Venice of America and the City of Flowers continues to position Greater Fort Lauderdale as a gateway to Latin America and the Caribbean for visitors whether traveling to visit friends and family, for business or meetings and conventions," said Nicki E. Grossman, president of the Greater Fort Lauderdale Convention & Visitors Bureau.

"We are excited about JetBlue's new service to Medellin. JetBlue recognizes the importance of the international community in Broward County and has been very successful in developing destinations to meet this market's needs," said Kent George, director of aviation, Broward County Aviation Department. "This new daily service will provide the citizens of Medellin the opportunity to visit Greater Fort Lauderdale and experience our beautiful beaches and the cultural amenities of the region."

"Medellin is currently experiencing a process of metamorphosis that places it as one of the most attractive cities to do business in Latin America," said Anibal Gaviria Correa, mayor of Medellin.  "For this reason, we were filled with joy and pride when we received the news that JetBlue had chosen to begin service to our city. Initiatives like these support and leverage our proposal to advance the region's internationalization, competitiveness and economic development. I am grateful for the trust that JetBlue has placed in Medellin. We are sure JetBlue will find it to be a thriving city with warm, hardworking people." Gaviria Correa reassures that Medellin is "an excellent place to live with great opportunities to strengthen business. JetBlue will always find an ally in our government for the development of projects that will allow us to continue progressing on the route to equity and life."

"I am pleased with the arrival of newcomer JetBlue Airways and recognize the importance of its presence in the second most important airport in the country, as it strengthens the portfolio of international connectivity options from Rionegro to the United States," said Sara Ramirez Restrepo, general manager of Airplan, the entity that operates Jose Maria Cordova International Airport. "With one daily flight, it boosts the quality of the services and offers our passengers more price alternatives. At the same time, it helps the country's air connectivity and opens the doors to more frequencies in the near future."  Ramirez Restrepo equally highlights "I am grateful that in its expansion strategy, JetBlue has selected Medellin as a city with great potential. I am also grateful to know that passengers will have more options to improve connectivity to other destinations."

JetBlue's schedule between Fort Lauderdale and Medellin:

In addition to its nonstop service to Fort Lauderdale, Medellin customers will be able to conveniently connect onward to destinations in the United States and the Caribbean including: Austin, Texas; Boston, MA; New York, NY (JFK and LaGuardia); Newark, NJ and Raleigh-Durham, NC.

With new flights to Medellin, JetBlue will serve 27 Latin American and Caribbean destinations, including: Aruba; The Bahamas (Nassau); Barbados; Bermuda; Cayman Islands (Grand Cayman); Colombia (Bogota, Medellin and Cartagena); Costa Rica (Liberia and San Jose); Dominican Republic (La Romana, Puerto Plata, Punta Cana, Samana, Santiago and Santo Domingo); Jamaica (Kingston and Montego Bay); Mexico (Cancun); Puerto Rico (Aguadilla, Ponce and San Juan); St. Croix; Saint. Lucia; St. Maarten; St. Thomas; and, Turks and Caicos (Providenciales).

JetBlue's flights to Medellin will be operated with its comfortable 150-seat Airbus A320 fleet and award-winning service featuring convenient, assigned seating; a first-checked bag free (b); complimentary and unlimited name brand snacks and drinks; comfy leather seats; and more legroom than any other carrier in coach (c).

About JetBlue Airways
JetBlue is New York's Hometown Airline™ with other focus cities in Boston, Fort Lauderdale, Los Angeles (Long Beach), San Juan and Orlando. Known for its award-winning service and free inflight entertainment as much as its low fares, JetBlue offers the most legroom in coach of any U.S. airline (based on average fleet-wide seat pitch) as well as super-spacious Even More Space 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 79 cities with 800 daily flights and plans to launch service to Worcester, Massachusetts, Lima, Peru and Port-au-Prince, Haiti subject to receipt of government operating authority. With JetBlue, all seats are assigned, all fares are one-way, and an overnight stay is never required. For information call 1-800-538-2583 (TTY/TDD 1-800-336-5530), or visit www.jetblue.com.

(a)  Fare includes government taxes/fees and must be purchased by June 17, 2013 (the earlier of 11:59 PM ET or local) for flights from Fort Lauderdale, FL (FLL) to Medellin, Colombia (MDE) on Monday – Thursday only between September 5, 2013 – November 11, 2013 (blackout dates October 2, 2013 – October 15, 2013).  14-day advance purchase required.  Fare will be higher for flights from MDE due to higher government taxes/fees. Fare is subject to availability; may not be available on all flights; may change without notice; is valid for new bookings only; must be purchased at time of reservation; and is one-way, nonstop, nonrefundable and nontransferable.  Reservations made one week or more prior to a flight's scheduled departure may be canceled without penalty up to 24 hours after the reservation is made. Previously purchased tickets may not be exchanged for these special fare tickets.  First checked bag is free (weight and size limits and exceptions for itineraries including flights marketed or operated by other airlines apply).  Fare does not include fees for oversized/overweight/extra baggage or other fees for products/services sold separately.  To view baggage fees and other optional services and fees, click here.  $20 fee per person applies to fares (not Award flights) purchased by phone or at an airport or ticket office.  Cancellations/changes must be made prior to scheduled departure (otherwise all money for fare is forfeited); $150 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.  Proper documentation required for boarding.  Other restrictions apply.

(b)  Weight and size limits apply.  Bag fee may apply to itineraries including flights operated or marketed by other airlines. 

(c)  JetBlue offers the most legroom in coach, based on average fleet-wide seat pitch for U.S. airlines. 

Reservations
+1 800 JETBLUE (538 2583): in Colombia 01800-9-156761
TTY/TDD: +1 800 336-5530
www.jetblue.com 

SOURCE JetBlue Airways