New York low-fare carrier JetBlue Airways has signed a contract converting two A320 options to two A320 firm orders, bringing its total number of A320s on order to 78, including those already delivered. Deliveries of these newly ordered aircraft are scheduled for the fourth quarter of this year (2003). Both will be powered by IAE V2500 engines, like the rest of the JetBlue A320 fleet. This newest order and the subsequent deliveries will bring JetBlue's total fleet size to 52 Airbus A320s by the end of the year.

"As the tenth largest A320 operator in the world as measured by weekly departures, we're very excited to add an additional two Airbus aircraft to our fleet this year," said David Neeleman, CEO of JetBlue Airways. "At a time when many in our industry are reducing capacity, we continue to see strong demand from our loyal customer base. These additional aircraft will help us to meet that demand by bringing high quality service and low fares to more Customers around the country."

"JetBlue’s success in this challenging period for the industry is a testament to the airline's people, service and its choice of aircraft," said Noël Forgeard, Airbus President and Chief Executive Officer. "We are pleased that JetBlue continues to show confidence in the reliability and economy of the A320 Family, a confidence demonstrated by this newest order."

The Airbus A320 Family includes the 107-seat A318, the 124-seat A319, the 150-seat A320 and the 185-seat A321. Each of these two-engine aircraft features the widest fuselage of any single-aisle aircraft in the world, offering passengers more room to relax and crew members more room to maneuver through the cabin. In addition, the A320 Family features the most economical and environmentally responsible aircraft in their class, offering the lowest fuel burn, emissions and noise footprints in their size category.

A leading aircraft manufacturer with the most modern and comprehensive product line on the market, Airbus is a global company with design and manufacturing facilities in France, Germany, the UK, and Spain as well as subsidiaries in the United States, China and Japan. Headquartered in Toulouse, France, Airbus is an EADS joint Company with BAE SYSTEMS.

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