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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: March 26, 2004

SCHUMER: JETBLUE TO ADD A NEW FLIGHT BETWEEN NYC & ROCHESTER

Low cost carrier to add daily flights to Rochester in response to the strong demand shown by New Yorkers

With Western New York's demand for JetBlue's low fares continuing to exceed expectations, Schumer says airline will add flight May 4

US Senator Charles E. Schumer today announced that JetBlue Airways will add a new flight to its daily service to Rochester from John F. Kennedy airport starting May 4. Schumer got JetBlue to begin serving Rochester in 2000 in exchange for securing landing rights at John F. Kennedy airport for the low cost airline. JetBlue currently has four daily flights from JFK to Rochester.

"When I first started lobbying JetBlue to fly to Rochester, I said that if they supplied the seats, New Yorkers would fill them. Well, we're meeting that challenge and today's announcement proves it," Schumer said. "JetBlue is adding more flights to Rochester because New Yorkers have proven a basic law of economics: when you offer top-shelf service at an affordable price, people scoop it up."

Schumer has been working with JetBlue to improve air service in New York State since he was first elected to the Senate. In exchange for securing landing and takeoff rights for JetBlue at JFK, Schumer got the airline to commit to serving Syracuse, Rochester and Buffalo within its first 18 months of its startup. The new flights will be operated with 156-seat Airbus A320 aircraft.

"JetBlue is proving to be so popular in Rochester that they're adding another flight," Schumer said. "That's good news for passengers looking to fly in and out of the area and good for attracting businesses."

JetBlue is a low-fare, low-cost passenger airline that operates a fleet of 57 new Airbus A320 aircraft. All JetBlue planes feature roomy all-leather seats each equipped with free live satellite television, offering up to 24 channels of DIRECTV(r) Programming at every seat. With JetBlue, all seats are assigned, all travel is ticketless, all fares are one-way, and a Saturday night stay is never required.

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