New York-based low-fare carrier JetBlue Airways has ordered 30 new Airbus A320s. Like the rest of the airline’s extensive A320 fleet, they will be powered by International Aero Engines V2500s. Deliveries of the newly contracted aircraft will begin in 2006 and run through 2011. To date, JetBlue orders for Airbus aircraft total 173.

“As the sixth largest A320 operator in the world as measured by weekly departures, we’re very excited to add an additional 30 Airbus aircraft to our fleet,” said David Neeleman, CEO of JetBlue Airways. “We continue to see a strong demand for more flights from our loyal customer base. Today’s announcement of 30 more IAE-powered A320s will help us meet that demand by providing the JetBlue experience to even more customers around the country.”

"This agreement will make JetBlue our fourth largest airline customer in the world, in terms of numbers of aircraft ordered," said Noel Forgeard, Airbus President and Chief Executive Officer. "The fact that a low-fare carrier holds this stature speaks volumes of the value of the A320 Family in the low-cost sector. JetBlue continues to be a leader in the recovery and strengthening of the U.S. market, and we are proud to be a partner in their success."

Each new Airbus order means new business for American companies. Airbus spends some 40 percent of its procurement budget with hundreds of suppliers in more than 40 U.S. states. In 2003 alone, Airbus spent more than $5 billion in U.S. contracts. Using U.S. Department of Commerce figures, that dollar amount translates into Airbus support of more than 100,000 American jobs.

JetBlue currently flies a fleet of 60 A320 aircraft, including 50 purchased from Airbus, plus an additional 10 leased aircraft. Taking into account today’s announcement, the airline’s outstanding A320 firm order backlog stands at 123 aircraft, to be delivered at a rate of up to 17 aircraft per year through 2012. All JetBlue A320s offer passengers single-class accommodations of 156 all-leather seats, each equipped with 24 channels of DIRECTVâ programming.

JetBlue, as “New Air”, placed its very first aircraft order, for Airbus A320s, in 1999. In the five years since, JetBlue has brought its total firm order for A320s to 173 - only airline customers Lufthansa (196), United (195) and Northwest (194) have ordered more Airbus aircraft.

Airbus is a leading aircraft manufacturer with the most modern and comprehensive family of airliners ranging in capacity from 100 to more than 500 seats with the latest state-of-the-art technologies on the market. Airbus has delivered more than 3,500 aircraft to some 260 customers and operators world-wide, and boasts a healthy delivery backlog of some 1,400 aircraft, which, at current rates, represents close to five years of production. With an annual turnover of €19.2 billion in 2003, Airbus is a global company with design and manufacturing facilities in France, Germany, the UK, and Spain, as well as subsidiaries in the U.S., China and Japan. Headquartered in Toulouse, France, Airbus is an EADS joint Company with BAE Systems.



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