JetBlue Airways

Jet Blue Airlines is now flying non-stop from Burlington to Orlando, Florida. Click here to read more.

JetBlue Airways set out to bring humanity back to air travel and to make flying more enjoyable. The challenges and skeptics were many. Critics scoffed at our dream of creating a successful low-fare airline based in New York City. ... Seven million customers later, we're proud to be proving the critics wrong. Click here to read more.

The number of passengers boarding flights at Burlington International Airport was an all-time high for September. Last month 44,477 passengers took flights out of Burlington compared to 30,882 for the same month last year, an increase of 44 percent. The increase is dramatic because travel came to a standstill last year in the wake of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks. The airport was closed for three days. When it reopened, travelers were reluctant to fly. Travel is down compared to August, when 56,386 passengers boarded flights. Travel typically falls off after the summer travel season, Airport Director J.J. Hamilton said. ... For the first nine months of the year, travel out of the airport is ahead of last year by 1.3 percent. Burlington airport remains popular because fares are competitive and JetBlue Airways, a low-cost carrier, continues to draw travelers, said Ted Child,

Vermont's largest airport is reporting that last year was its busiest one on record. More than 550-thousand passengers boarded planes throughout the year. Burlington International Airport Director J-J Hamilton says December's high volume helped the airport set the new record. And Hamilton says those numbers strengthen the case for expanding the airport too. Burlington's record passenger traffic numbers come as larger airports around the country struggle to regain passengers. Airport officials say passenger counts have jumped significantly since JetBlue Airlines came to Burlington in September 2000. (Copyright 2003 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

Atlantic Coast Airlines looks at becoming low-cost airline. A commuter airline that serves Burlington International Airport announced plans Monday to become a low-cost carrier. The change could mean a second low-cost airline would join JetBlue Airways at the Burlington airport. Atlantic Coast Airlines announced that it wants to end the United Express service it provides for United Airlines and instead become another player in the burgeoning discount airline market along side JetBlue, Southwest Airlines and AirTran Airways among others. To do that, Atlantic Coast has to get out of a contract with bankrupt United. After United filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection last year, it sought to renegotiate a cheaper contract with Atlantic Coast. The two airlines could not come to terms. Atlantic Coast President Kerry Skeen said his airline had been considering such a move even before United filed for bankruptcy.

Discount airline JetBlue Airways announced on Tuesday the addition of a third Burlington-to-New York City flight. The new schedule will allow travelers to get to Burlington and back in a day on the discount carrier or give them more opportunities to catch connecting flights out of John F. Kennedy International Airport. Starting Nov. 2 JetBlue will add a 7:20 a.m. flight out of Burlington on every day but Sunday. A late night flight will return to Burlington at 11:35 p.m., everyday but Saturday. ... JetBlue has 55 percent of the market from Burlington to New York City with the lowest average fare of $66 one way as of the end of 2002, according to JetBlue spokeswoman Fiona Morrisson. About half of the Burlington travelers on JetBlue make connections to other flights, she said. JetBlue arrived in Burlington three years ago offering two flights daily. The number of passengers taking flights from the airport shot up by 30 percent.

Burlington has made the list of cities up for consideration by a fledgling discount airline. Burlington International Airport is one of about 90 cities under review by start-up Independence Air. Airports in Albany, N.Y., Manchester, N.H., and Montreal are also on the list. The airline plans to pick 50 cities and aims to be in the air around mid-year, said Rick DeLisi, Independence Air spokesman. ... Winning a discount carrier to join JetBlue Airlines in Burlington would help lower fares to more destinations and extend the state's tourism reach to the Washington metro area, Hyde said. ... For this trip to Washington, Hyde flew out of Albany (N.Y.) International Airport on a $200 fare. The fare from Burlington was $800, he said. As seen in Burlington, discount carriers can have a dramatic effect on airport traffic. After JetBlue's arrival in September 2000, passenger counts jumped 30 percent. Two years later the airport saw its busiest year, passing the half-million mark for passengers taking flights out of the airport.