(Oct. 26, 2006) -- JetBlue Airways announced today (Oct. 26) that it will begin non-stop flights to Chicago's O'Hare Int'l Airport from LB Airport and NYC's JFK Airport, starting January 4, 2007.
Effective January 4, 2007 (unless otherwise noted), JetBlue's LB/Chicago service will be:
"Chicago has consistently ranked No. 1 on our customers' wish list of JetBlue destinations for a long time, and we are happy to bring our award-winning service and low fares to the Second City," said JetBlue CEO and Founder David Neeleman.
During yesterday's JetBlue third quarter earnings conference call, CEO Neeleman mentioned in passing that the carrier would announce service to a new city today...but gave no indication it would be the nation's third largest metropolitan area.
LB Airport Public Information Officer Sharon Diggs-Jackson told LBReport.com that the Airport is pleased to again be offering Chicago service (which ended with American Airlines' exit from LGB). She said JetBlue's Chicago flights won't mean more net flights over LB neighborhoods since it's expected JetBlue will reconfigure its schedule [which it periodically does for seasonal and other factors] and the carrier also recently acquired a few LB flight slots given up by FedEx.
JetBlue says its service between Chicago/O'Hare and Long Beach effective January 4, 2007 unless otherwise noted will be:
Service between Chicago/O'Hare and Long Beach will use the carrier's Airbus 320 fleet.
The announcement made national business news: Reuters: JetBlue To Serve Chicago's O'Hare Airport.