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Jet Blue to buy Airbus A320s
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January 14, 2002: 7:07 a.m. ET
U.S. low-cost airline to buy 10 Airbus A320s for $500 million
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LONDON (CNN) - JetBlue Airways, a U.S. low-fare carrier, said on Monday it has ordered 10 new A320 Airbus aircraft worth more than $500 million.
The New-York based company in June ordered 48 airbus planes worth $2.5 billion. At the time, it committed itself to buy 30 Airbus A320 planes and placed options for five aircraft and purchase rights for an additional 13.
"Despite the airline industry's current climate, JetBlue is moving forward with its original controlled growth business plan," said David Neeleman, JetBlue's Chief Executive Officer. "More than four million customers have come to love our brand-new A320s as a safe, reliable and comfortable way to travel for business and pleasure."
While traditional flag airlines have struggled to cope with a global economic slowdown and the events of September 11, low-cost airlines on both sides of the Atlantic are pushing ahead with rapid expansion plans as lower fares attract more travelers.
Earlier this month, Europe's second-biggest low cost airline, EasyJet, said it was in talks with Boeing of the U.S. and Toulouse, France-based Airbus maker, to buy 75 new aircraft, valued at about £2.7 billion.
Airbus said JetBlue had now ordered a total of 74 A320 aircraft, putting it among the group's top five customers for the plane. JetBlue's fleet currently comprises 22 A320s.
The airline plans to take delivery of 13 A320s in 2002, 14 in 2003, 13 and 2004, and 12 in 2005. With options for an additional 49 A320s, the airline has contracts for a fleet totaling as many as 132 A320 aircraft, with a
combined value of $6.5 billion.
From New York's John F. Kennedy International Airport, JetBlue flies mostly to Florida and to other East Coast destinations, along with some service to California. 
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