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Corporate Social Responsibility
News
5.20.2008 - 09:00am ET
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JetBlue Announces Jetting to Green Environmental Initiatives
Carbon offset program launched with Carbonfund.org
(CSRwire) Partnership launched with Airbus, Honeywell and International Aero
Engines to research alternative jet fuels
NEW YORK, NY - May 20, 2008 - JetBlue Airways Corporation (Nasdaq: JBU)
today announces Jetting to Green - a suite of initiatives designed to
reduce the airline's environmental impact and make a difference within the
company, the airline industry and the communities it serves. Jetting to
Green offers JetBlue customers the opportunity to offset carbon dioxide
emissions generated by their travel through an instrumental partnership
with Carbonfund.org. The airline is also partnering with Airbus,
Honeywell Aerospace and International Aero Engines to pursue development
of a sustainable second-generation biofuel for use in commercial aircraft.
The companies' joint activity will help develop renewable energy
technology to convert vegetation- and algae-based oils into aviation
fuels.
Other elements of Jetting to Green include increasing operational
procedures that minimize the airline’s environmental footprint,
publishing an environmental and social report, and connecting crewmembers
and customers with opportunities to volunteer and make a difference in
their own neighborhoods. Complete program details can be found at www.jetblue.com/green.
JetBlue is celebrating the program by conducting a Jetting to Green
sweepstakes with the opportunity to win a Toyota Prius hybrid vehicle and
other green prizes.
"Jetting to Green is an environmental campaign with a comprehensive
approach," said Icema Gibbs, director of community relations for JetBlue
Airways. "The program invites our customers to join us as we take
immediate action to reduce our environmental impact through volunteerism
and carbon offsetting, but it also promotes environmental improvements for
the future through educational initiatives and industry research and
development. Together we can begin to affect change and make a difference
for our planet, and Jetting to Green provides the vehicle for JetBlue and
our customers to do just that."
Partnership with Carbonfund.org
Jetting to Green includes a partnership with Carbonfund.org, a nonprofit
organization that allows customers to offset carbon dioxide emissions
generated by their individual air travel with carbon offsets. Upon
completing their JetBlue itinerary online, customers will have the option
to link directly to www.carbonfund.org/jetblue
to offset their flight's carbon footprint. Customers will be able to
calculate the carbon footprint for their flight using a Flight Calculator
or donate and offset their travel by choosing one of two preset options
that start at $5.00 per roundtrip flight. All contributions are tax
deductible.
Customers' donations will support a portfolio of environmental projects in
select states currently served by JetBlue. Donations will further the
development of wind power in Texas, assist with the capture of methane gas
from landfills in Upstate New York, and continue reforestation efforts on
1,100 acres in Louisiana, which will restore native trees and protect
local wildlife.
In addition to offering customers the opportunity to support carbon offset
projects, JetBlue has committed to offset carbon dioxide emissions
generated by the airline's crewmembers traveling for corporate business in
2008. This will fund the planting of approximately 11,200 trees in
Louisiana, creating a 40-acre forest.
"JetBlue is not just offsetting its own corporate emissions, but is
empowering those who fly JetBlue to do the same," said Eric Carlson,
executive director of Carbonfund.org. "As a business, JetBlue has always
been one of the leading innovators in its industry. Now it's taking that
innovation to the fight against global climate change."
Alternative Fuel Partnership
JetBlue has partnered with Airbus, Honeywell Aerospace and International
Aero Engines to pursue development of a sustainable biofuel for use in
commercial aircraft. The goal of the partnership is to develop an
alternative jet fuel derived from renewable biomass sources - known as
second-generation biofuels - that do not compete with existing food
production. Research and testing will focus on the conversion of
biological materials into aviation fuel that performs identically to or as
a blend component with traditional fuels while meeting the stringent
performance specifications for commercial aircraft flight.
Along with reducing the airline industry's impact on the global
environment and reliance on petroleum-based fuel, using second-generation
biofuels offer potential environmental advantages that include reduced
emissions and carbon footprint.
Jetting to Green Sweepstakes
To celebrate the launch of Jetting to Green, JetBlue is offering a chance
to win a variety of green prizes, including a Toyota Prius hybrid, an
ENERGY STAR(R) qualified Sharp AQUOS(R) LCD TV with a Blue-ray Disc(TM)
player, and a Green Planet Films DVD library. Visit www.jettingtogreensweepstakes.com
for official rules and to enter to win. The sweepstakes runs through June
30, 2008.
Jetting to Green is one element of JetBlue's recently announced Happy
Jetting brand campaign designed to differentiate the airline's strategy of
delivering a "true value" experience for every customer. Within the
current challenging industry and economic environments, JetBlue is setting
itself apart as the airline that offers true value for money and where
great service and product are still included in the fare. JetBlue has set
a new course by saying goodbye to flying and hello to 'jetting.'
About JetBlue Airways
New York-based JetBlue Airways has created a new airline category based on
value, service and style. Known for its award-winning service and free TV
as much as its low fares, JetBlue is now pleased to offer customers Lots
of Legroom and super-spacious Even More Legroom seats. JetBlue introduced
complimentary in-flight e-mail and instant messaging services on aircraft
"BetaBlue," a first among U.S. domestic airlines. 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 52 cities with 550 daily departures. With
JetBlue, all seats are assigned, all travel is ticketless, all fares are
one-way, and an overnight stay is never required. For information or
reservations call 1-800-JETBLUE (1-800-538-2583) or visit www.jetblue.com.
About Carbonfund.org
Carbonfund.org is one of the country's leading carbon reduction and offset
organization. Carbonfund.org educates the public about the dangers of
climate change and makes it easy and affordable for individuals,
businesses and organizations to reduce their climate impact.
Carbonfund.org works with over 600 corporate and non-profit partners
including Volkswagen, Allstate, Discovery, Dell, Orbitz, Lancome and
Environmental Defense. Please visit www.carbonfund.org.
DIRECTV(R) service is not available on flights outside the continental
United States; however, where applicable FOX InFlight(TM) is offered
complimentary on these routes. (C)2008 JetBlue Airways
Jetting to Green sweepstakes begins at 12:00:01 AM EDT on April 22, 2008
and ends at 11:59:59 PM EDT on June 30, 2008. No purchase necessary to
enter or receive a prize. Sweepstakes open to legal residents of the
fifty (50) United States and the District of Columbia who are 21 years of
age or older and licensed drivers possessing a valid driver’s license at
the time of entry. Void in Antilles, Aruba, Bahamas, Bermuda, Cancun,
Dominican Republic, Mexico, Puerto Rico, outside the U.S. and where
prohibited and restricted by law. See official rules at www.jettingtogreensweepstakes.com/rules.html.
(C) 2008 JetBlue Airways. All rights reserved. Sharp and AQUOS are
registered trademarks of Sharp Corporation. This sweepstakes is
administered by Centra Marketing & Communications on behalf of JetBlue
Airways Corporation.
This press release contains statements of a forward-looking nature
which represent our management's beliefs and assumptions concerning future
events. Forward-looking statements involve risks, uncertainties and
assumptions, and are based on information currently available to us.
Actual results may differ materially from those expressed in the
forward-looking statements due to many factors, including, without
limitation, our extremely competitive industry; increases in fuel prices,
maintenance costs and interest rates; our ability to implement our growth
strategy, including the ability to operate reliably the EMBRAER 190
aircraft and our new terminal at JFK; our significant fixed obligations;
our ability to attract and retain qualified personnel and maintain our
culture as we grow; our reliance on high daily aircraft utilization; our
dependence on the New York metropolitan market and the effect of increased
congestion in this market; our reliance on automated systems and
technology; our being subject to potential unionization; our reliance on a
limited number of suppliers; changes in or additional government
regulation; changes in our industry due to other airlines' financial
condition; and external geopolitical events and conditions. Further
information concerning these and other factors is contained in the
Company's Securities and Exchange Commission filings, including but not
limited to, the Company's 2007 Annual Report on Form 10-K and Quarterly
Reports on Form 10-Q. We undertake no obligation to update any
forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances that may
arise after the date of this release.
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