New York's Senator
CHARLES E. SCHUMER

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE February 8, 2001

SCHUMER: JETBLUE WILL LAND IN SYRACUSE IN MAY

Senator fulfills pledge to bring low-cost airline to Syracuse, Rochester and Buffalo six months ahead of schedule

Syracuse will see lower fares, more frequent service, according to Schumer

US Senator Charles E. Schumer today announced that JetBlue Airways will begin service from Syracuse's Hancock International Airport to New York City's John F. Kennedy (JFK) Airport starting in May. Schumer's announcement fulfills a pledge he made almost one year ago that the low cost airline would be servicing Syracuse, Rochester and Buffalo by August, 2001.

"After years of sky high airfares, Central New Yorkers will finally begin to see some relief," Schumer said. "With JetBlue's arrival, we've cleared a major hurdle to bringing competition, better airfares and more frequent service to a region that has been underserved for way too long. JetBlue has already helped make affordable air service a reality for travelers in Rochester and Buffalo. Now, it's Central New York's turn to experience the 'JetBlue Effect.'"

In exchange for securing landing and takeoff rights for JetBlue at JFK, Schumer convinced the airline to commit to serving Syracuse, Rochester and Buffalo within the first 18 months of its startup. JetBlue CEO David Neeleman made good on his pledge to Schumer by bringing JetBlue to Buffalo on its first day in business one year ago and by starting service to Rochester last August. Today's announcement is six months ahead of the schedule Schumer brokered with Neeleman.

"I promised Central New York one year ago that JetBlue would be flying to Syracuse by August, 2001 which is why today is such a proud moment for me," Schumer said. "I am grateful to David Neeleman for being a man of his word and bringing JetBlue to Central New York ahead of schedule. In terms of air service, Syracuse is about to go from worst to first."

JetBlue's arrival will help improve service at Syracuse's Hancock International Airport, where high fares have driven an increasing number of travelers to Albany International Airport. In the second

quarter of 2000, the airport had the 14^th highest airfares nationwide - one rank lower than it had just one quarter earlier. The high fares helped contribute to a 3.13 percent decline in passenger traffic between January and November of last year.

Since JetBlue landed in Buffalo and Rochester, area residents have seen dramatically lower fares and better service. Four years ago, Buffalo Niagara International Airport had the second highest airfares in the nation and flew fewer than 3 million passengers a year. Since JetBlue and low-cost carrier Southwest's arrival, the airport's ranking has dropped to 48^th, passenger traffic has hit record highs, and the percentage of passengers using low-fare carriers has almost tripled.

In Rochester, JetBlue has gained a 10 percent share of passenger traffic at Greater Rochester International Airport in just five months of operation and airport officials estimate that the low-cost carrier helped attract tens of thousands of additional travelers.

As a frequent traveler to Upstate New York, Schumer said JetBlue will provide "a much needed elixir for the travel woes that have caused way too much grief for local air travelers. Like most Central New Yorkers, I've paid first-class prices for second class service for way too long. With today's announcement, that's finally about to end."

JetBlue Airways is the nation's most heavily-capitalized start-up airline. Considered to be the nation's first "mega start-up" applicant, the company's fleet comprises 82 new Airbus A-320 aircraft valued at more than $4 billion and is the first aircraft to feature 24-channel live in-flight satellite television at every seat.

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