BEIJING and NEW YORK, June 11,
2012 /PRNewswire/ -- The chief executives of JetBlue
Airways (NASDAQ: JBLU), New York's
Hometown Airline™, and Air China Limited (HKEX: 00753; LSE: AIRC;
SSE: 601111: ADR OTC: AIRYY), China's exclusive national flag carrier, today
announced a new partnership at the 68th Annual General Meeting of
the International Air Transport Association (IATA) in the Chinese
capital.
(Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20110404/NY76997LOGO
)
The agreement marks the first partnership between JetBlue – the
largest domestic airline at America's "Gateway to the World," New
York John F. Kennedy (JFK) International Airport – and a carrier
based in the rapidly-expanding Chinese market.
Air China and JetBlue will
initially offer interline connections between their networks at
New York/JFK as well as at
Los Angeles International Airport
(LAX). Tickets are expected to go on sale later this summer.
Subject to government approval, Air China this autumn plans to
enter into a codeshare with JetBlue and place its "CA" designator
on flights operated by JetBlue.
"We are pleased to announce this exciting new partnership here
in Air China's hometown," said Dave
Barger, JetBlue's president and chief executive officer.
"The Chinese market continues to be a key portion of the global
economy, and so we look forward to connecting business and leisure
travellers between both of these well-developed networks."
Mr. Jianjiang Cai, Air China's
president and CEO added, "The partnership with JetBlue creates many
connecting opportunities at Air China's two strategically important
U.S. gateways, New York and
Los Angeles. It strengthens both
our networks and benefits travelers of both countries."
Air China offers one daily
flight from New York and two daily
flights from Los Angeles to
Beijing Capital International Airport. In addition, separate from
the JetBlue interline, the airline flies once-daily from
San Francisco and Vancouver to Beijing.
The carrier's LAX flights are operated aboard the brand new
fleet of Boeing 777-300ER aircraft, which will also be deployed on
the JFK route effective October 1,
2012. The "triple seven" features eight Forbidden Pavilion
First Class luxury suites, 41 Capital Pavilion Business Class flat
beds and 259 economy seats with individual monitors and AVOD
(audio-video-on-demand) entertainment system.
Through Beijing Capital International Airport– Asia's busiest airport – travellers can access
countless other cities across China including Shanghai, Guangzhou, Chengdu, Shenzhen, Xi'an, Guilin, Chongqing, Fuzhou, and Nanjing, plus many other vibrant destinations
across the Asia Pacific region
including Tokyo, Seoul, Taipei, Singapore, Manila, Delhi, Bangkok, Jakarta, Ho Chi Minh
City, and Kuala Lumpur.
U.S.-bound travelers can enjoy easy connections from Air China's
Beijing flights onto JetBlue
flights destined for cities including Boston, Massachusetts; Buffalo/Niagara
Falls, New York; Chicago,
Illinois; Charlotte
and Raleigh, North Carolina;
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania;
San Juan, Puerto Rico; and
multiple destinations in Florida
including Fort Lauderdale,
Orlando, and Tampa. To learn more about JetBlue's growing
route network, visit www.jetblue.com.
Known for its award-winning customer service, JetBlue offers
travellers a premium experience that includes all-leather seating,
unlimited free snacks and drinks, plus the most legroom in economy
class (based on average fleet-wide seat pitch) as well as the most
free live entertainment of any U.S. airline. JetBlue also operates
one of America's youngest and most fuel-efficient airline fleets,
with 172 Airbus and EMBRAER aircraft.
Fliers traveling to Asia in Air
China's first and business class can now reserve at the time of
booking a complimentary chauffeured BMW sedan transfer from the
airports in Beijing, Shanghai, Chengdu, Guangzhou and Shenzhen to any destination in these cities.
In addition, a bilingual Chinese-English Air China agent is on hand
to meet and greet the traveler at the gate upon arrival in
Beijing and assist him or her
through immigration, baggage claim and customs all the way to the
main exit at the arrival level for ground
transportation.
About JetBlue Airways
JetBlue is New York's Hometown
Airline™ with other focus cities in Boston, Fort
Lauderdale/Hollywood,
Los Angeles, and Orlando. Known for its award-winning service
and free TV as much as its low fares, JetBlue offers the most
legroom in coach of any U.S. airline (based on average fleet-wide
seat pitch) as well as super-spacious Even
More Space seats. JetBlue is also America's first and only
airline to offer its own Customer Bill of Rights, with meaningful
and specific compensation for customers inconvenienced by service
disruptions within JetBlue's control. Visit www.jetblue.com/promise
for details. JetBlue serves 71 cities with 700 daily flights. With
JetBlue, all seats are assigned, all fares are one-way, and an
overnight stay is never required. For information call +1
800-538-2583 (+1-801-449-2525 from China and other foreign countries), TTY/TDD +1
800-336-5530, or visit www.jetblue.com.
About Air China
A Star Alliance member, Air China is
the world's largest airline by market capitalization, according to
the International Air Transport Association (IATA). It operates a
fleet of 306 Airbus and Boeing aircraft, and its robust network of
289 routes extends throughout Asia, the Middle
East, Europe, South and
North America from its main hub at
Beijing Capital International Airport. As a Star Alliance member, Air China has within its
reach 1,160 destinations in 181 countries. Air China holds the controlling shares of its
subsidiary Shenzhen Airlines, Air Macau, Shandong Airlines. It owns
29.99% of Cathay Pacific Airways, making it the airline's second
largest shareholder after the Swire Group. For sales and
reservations, please call (800) 882-8122 or visit
www.airchina.us.
SOURCE JetBlue Airways