JetBlue's Diamond Destination: Service to the Airline's 75th BlueCity, Providence, Rhode Island, Begins Today

PROVIDENCE, R.I., Nov. 29, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Award-winning value airline JetBlue Airways (Nasdaq: JBLU) shines even brighter today with the launch of nonstop service between the Sunshine State of Florida and the carrier's 75^th destination: Providence, Rhode Island. Two daily flights from T.F. Green International Airport (PVD) to Orlando International Airport (MCO) and one daily flight to Fort Lauderdale/Hollywood International Airport (FLL) begin today.

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

Governor Lincoln Chafee, Warwick Mayor Scott Avedisian, Rhode Island Airport Corporation (RIAC) Board Chair Dr. Kathleen Hittner and Interim President and CEO Peter Frazier will join Joanna Geraghty, JetBlue's executive vice president and chief people officer, at PVD to commemorate the airline's start of service. The first flight from Florida will be met with much fanfare as it taxis through a water cannon salute upon arrival. New England Patriots' cheerleaders will cheer on arriving customers and the local Bishop Hendricken High School Jazz Combo will entertain guests. 

"Providence is JetBlue's diamond destination, and our seventh airport served in New England, giving customers even more convenient options for traveling in comfort and style to the places they want to go," said Ms. Geraghty.  "With a first checked bag free, the most legroom of any carrier in coach, free live television and assigned leather seating, our unbeatable product offerings combined with our award-winning service make JetBlue the Ocean State's carrier of choice." (a)

"I am proud to welcome JetBlue Airways to Rhode Island," Governor Lincoln Chafee said. "The addition of JetBlue will have positive effects throughout the state: T.F. Green customers will have more flight options, the airport will enjoy the addition of new air service and jobs, and Rhode Island will continue to build its reputation as a great place to do business. JetBlue service makes T.F. Green Airport, in the heart of Warwick's growing transportation hub and regional connectivity, an even more appealing option for the traveling public."

"We are very pleased to welcome JetBlue to Warwick," said Mayor Scott Avedisian. "JetBlue is widely recognized for value and customer service. Those qualities, together with the convenience and ease of travel they offer their customers, make them a wonderful addition to T.F. Green Airport. I know that having JetBlue in our community will also have a positive impact as we move forward with the redevelopment and revitalization of the Warwick Station Development District." 

"There is much to celebrate on this long-awaited JetBlue inaugural day," said Dr. Kathleen Hittner, Chair of the RIAC board.   "The enthusiastic response from the community has been extremely encouraging with impressive load factors on the outbound flights.   This is the beginning of an exciting new chapter at T. F. Green."      

As part of the celebration and to further give back to the communities it serves, JetBlue announced that it will be hosting a special book drive tomorrow, Friday, Nov. 30, in support of the Providence-based Hasbro Children's Hospital's Read to Me Program. The book drive location, which will remain a mystery until tomorrow morning, will be revealed on the airline's Twitter feed @JetBlue.  For those that show up at the event dressed like a Floridian, with three new or very gently used books for donation, JetBlue will be on hand with some great giveaways, including travel certificates and flight discounts for travel from Providence.

"We welcome JetBlue to the Rhode Island market and are thrilled they chose to support the 'Read to Me' program at Hasbro Children's Hospital.  Helping families develop a love for reading together is so important. We are proud to name JetBlue as a new community partner," said Dr. Robert Klein, Pediatrician-in-Chief at Hasbro Children's Hospital.

JetBlue also donated seats on today's inaugural to Orlando in support of Give Kids The World Village (GKTW), a Central Florida non-profit "storybook" resort that fulfills the wishes of children with life-threatening illnesses by providing their families weeklong, cost-free Orlando dream vacations. Two wish families from Providence will join the celebration and travel to the Village. In addition, 30 employees from Rhode Island-based branded play company Hasbro, Inc. are traveling with the group to volunteer their time at the Village.  They will be met by JetBlue's Orlando-based crewmembers who will also give back to this great cause.

"Every week, more than 1,400 shifts at Give Kids The World are filled by volunteer 'Angels' who help fulfill our mission of creating the happiness that inspires hope for children with life-threatening illnesses," said GKTW President Pamela Landwirth. "We are honored to welcome our long-time partner, Hasbro, and our new friends at JetBlue who will play an important role in bringing smiles to the faces of our precious guests this week."

"We appreciate the opportunity to join JetBlue on their inaugural flight to help our wonderful philanthropic partner, Give Kids The World," said Karen Davis, vice president of community relations for Hasbro, Inc. "It is great to see that they are just entering the Rhode Island market and are already making a difference for two local families in addition to Hasbro Children's Hospital."

Service between Providence and Florida will be operated on the value airline's fleet of Airbus A320 aircraft, featuring many premium offerings, including a first checked bag free (b), assigned leather seating with legroom to spare, and more than 140 channels of complimentary live television and radio on personal seatback screens (c). The airline, well-known for its superior and personable customer service, also offers a free and unlimited assortment of name brand snacks and drinks for the ride.

JetBlue's schedule between Providence and Orlando:

Customers traveling between Providence and Orlando can conveniently connect onwards to three other cities in JetBlue's route network: Aguadilla, Puerto Rico; Montego Bay, Jamaica; or Nassau, The Bahamas.

JetBlue's schedule between Providence and Fort Lauderdale/Hollywood:

Customers interested in booking a complete JetBlue Getaways vacation package including their flight, hotel, wheels and more can visit www.jetblue.com/vacations for more information. JetBlue Getaways vacations include the Best Price Guarantee and an exclusive 24-hour support desk, plus Concierge On Call to answer questions and make recommendations, dinner reservations, tee times and more.

JetBlue offers service from six additional New England airports, including: Burlington, Vt.; Hartford, Conn.; Martha's Vineyard and Nantucket, Mass.; Portland, Maine; and Boston, where JetBlue is the largest carrier and serves 45 nonstop destinations. 

About JetBlue Airways        
JetBlue is New York's Hometown Airline™ with other focus cities in Boston, Fort Lauderdale, Los Angeles, San Juan and Orlando. Known for its award-winning service and free TV 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 75 cities with 750 daily flights and plans to launch service to Charleston, S.C. and Albuquerque, New Mexico in 2013. 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) from the USA, or visit www.jetblue.com.

(a) Free first bag subject to weight and size limits and exceptions for itineraries including flights marketed or operated by other airlines. JetBlue offers the most legroom in coach, based on average fleet-wise seat pitch for U.S. airlines.  Live satellite TV and radio programming is not available on flights operating outside the continental U.S.  Where applicable, JetBlue may offer complimentary movies on these flights.  

(b) Free first bag subject to weight and size limits and exceptions for itineraries including flights marketed or operated by other airlines.

(c) Live satellite TV and radio programming is not available on flights operating outside the continental U.S.  Where applicable, JetBlue may offer complimentary JetBlue Features™ movies on these flights.  

SOURCE JetBlue Airways