JetBlue Celebrates 20th Birthday, 20 Years of Award-Winning Customer Service and Low Fares

JetBlue marked its 20th birthday, commemorating its first revenue flight between New York and Fort Lauderdale on Feb. 11, 2000. Twenty years, 470 million customers, and 102 million bags of Terra Blue chips later, JetBlue continues to inspire humanity by combining great service with low fares for customers.

JetBlue marked its 20th birthday, commemorating its first revenue flight between New York and Fort Lauderdale on Feb. 11, 2000.

“No one believed that a start-up airline in 2000 could survive 20 months, much less 20 years,” said Robin Hayes, chief executive officer, JetBlue. “But JetBlue proved that taking care of people and bringing low fares to the market could not only be a viable business model but could also completely disrupt an industry. Others have tried to imitate JetBlue but no one has ever successfully copied our 23,000 crewmembers and the incredible culture that they’ve built.”

Over two decades, JetBlue established itself as a leader in both value and comfort. With an initial pledge to bring humanity back to air travel, today JetBlue is bringing that same human touch and innovative spirit across the travel industry through the airline and its two subsidiaries – JetBlue Travel Products and JetBlue Technology Ventures. JetBlue has maintained its onboard advantage, with the most legroom in coach (a), complimentary high-speed Fly-Fi broadband on every aircraft (b), free seatback entertainment at every seat, free snacks and soft drinks, and hospitality-trained crewmembers offering award-winning service. 

‘20 Years Just Flew By’ Sale & Celebrations

JetBlue is planning a year-long celebration with its crew members and customers as it embarks on its third decade.

The airline is kicking off its “20 Years Just Flew By” fare sale with seats available now starting as low as $20 one-way in select markets (c). Visit jetblue.com to check availability and book.

Customers traveling on JetBlue flight #1 today from New York-JFK to Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport (FLL) were treated to breakfast treats and surprise gate-side giveaways at JetBlue’s home at Terminal 5 at JFK. JetBlue’s very first revenue flight operated the New York to Florida route as flight #1 on February 11, 2000.

Joanna Geraghty, president and chief operating officer, joined founding JetBlue crewmembers to mark the airline’s milestone by ringing the opening bell at Nasdaq in Times Square. JetBlue is proud to be New York’s Hometown Airline and remains committed to New York City and the entire Empire State.

Saving Customers $12 Billion … And Counting

With its everyday low fares and market-stimulating growth, JetBlue estimates it has saved customers over $12 billion that would otherwise have gone to the four large airlines that hold vast pricing power in the airports they dominate.

“JetBlue’s role in the industry is more important than ever,” Hayes said. “As the large airlines have consolidated and grown more powerful, and the ultra-low-cost carriers ushered in the no-frills flying, customers are turning to JetBlue for our high-quality service and affordable fares – definitely a unique combination in the industry today.”

Its low fares have stimulated demand in underutilized airports from New York to Boston to Fort Lauderdale to Long Beach and across the Caribbean. JetBlue launched operations at John F. Kennedy International Airport – which in 2000 served just 32 million travelers and was ripe for growth. By 2018, more than 61 million travelers passed through JFK thanks to JetBlue and the market stimulation of “the JetBlue effect.”