Letter to JetBlue CEO Dave Barger

Letter

Today, U.S. Senator Charles E. Schumer called on JetBlue to expand service and help lower airfare from the Greater Rochester International Airport to new destinations, and particularly encouraged non-stop service from Rochester to Las Vegas, Chicago and Boston. Schumer's call comes after he met with JetBlue's CEO Dave Barger, and in light of JetBlue's interest in examining the potential of service expansion to Rochester.

In addition, JetBlue's contract with the Greater Rochester International Airport expires this year and must be renewed, making new and expanded service to these destinations for both business and leisure travelers a timely and economically wise decision for the region.

"Expanded and non-stop air travel between Rochester International Airport and cities like Las Vegas, Chicago and Boston would be great for business, job development, tourism, and a boon for the Rochester region," said Schumer. "That is why I'm urging JetBlue and CEO Dave Barger to examine additional service to these cities and beyond, in order to meet the high demand of vacationers heading to Las Vegas and business travelers heading to Chicago or west coast destinations. What's more, better air service to and from Rochester means more jobs, more economic opportunity, and more routes in and out of the city -- I will do everything I can to get this done with JetBlue."

In his letter, Schumer highlighted the critical need to expand air service from the Greater Rochester International Airport for business and leisure travelers alike, as well as the economic benefit that such expansion would bring to JetBlue.

Currently, there is no non-stop service offered between Rochester and Las Vegas, which is a popular destination for recreation as well as business travel for trade shows and more. Even given the fact that there is no non-stop service to Las Vegas and currently Rochester travelers must make one or more stops, this route had 51,000 passengers in 2011. Schumer highlighted to JetBlue that creating a non-stop route to this already popular destination would be a boon for business, and would encourage business and recreational travel to and from Rochester.

The Senator also made the case for improving and increasing service from Rochester to Chicago and Boston. Both cities are popular destinations and connecting hubs for business travel. Currently, only American and United offer non-stop service from Rochester to Chicago and in 2010 the average one-way fare on this route was $220, but walk-up fares which include 3-7 day advance fares were in the $1,000 range. Currently, nonstop service from Rochester to Boston is only provided by US Airways. In 2010, the average one-way fare was $160, but 3-7 day advance round trip purchase fares were has high as $450-$550.

Schumer is urging JetBlue CEO Dave Barger to send high-level airline officials to meet with officials from Rochester International Airport to help map out a plan to remove these significant cost barriers to business travelers, and to help expand air service for local residents.

A copy of Senator Schumer's letter appears below:

Dear Mr. Barger,

I appreciated meeting with you recently to discuss opportunities for JetBlue to expand and enhance service across Upstate New York. In particular, I appreciate your interest in my request to examine new non-stop service from Rochester to destinations in the western United States, including Las Vegas. Currently there is high demand for nonstop service between Rochester and the West Coast including destinations like Las Vegas and Chicago, but these routes along with Rochester to Boston are among the higher priced and offer passengers the least competitive service and fares. New and expanded service to these destinations would be of great benefit to not only leisure travelers but also business travelers who in today's economy are very concerned with high fares.

Currently there is no non-stop service offered between Rochester and Las Vegas which is increasingly becoming an important business and trade show destination as well as a recreational destination. Despite the current inconvenient indirect service which requires travelers to make one or more stops, in 2011 this route had 51,000 O & D passengers annually. Presumably an even larger passenger market would develop with the advent of non-stop service, as more Rochester area passengers forgo driving to far-away airports where nonstop service is offered by other carriers.

Similarly, establishing a stronger level of service from Rochester to Chicago is especially important for business travelers and flyers needing to connect to western destinations via Chicago. Currently only American and United offer non-stop service from Rochester to Chicago and in 2010 the average one-way fare on this route was $220, but walk-up fares which include 3-7 day advance fares were in the $1,000 range. On the Rochester to Boston route nonstop service is currently provided by only one carrier, US Airways. In 2010, the average one-way fare was $160, but 3-7 day advance round trip purchase fares were has high as $450-$550 which is a significant cost barrier to business travelers.

In light of your interest in examining the potential of service expansion to Rochester and since JetBlue's current contract with the Greater Rochester International Airport expires this year and must be renewed, I would like to invite you to join me for a meeting with local officials in Rochester to further explore opportunities to add service in Rochester. In the last decade Rochester's airport was ranked among the most expensive to fly from in the nation, but since that time new entrant carriers like JetBlue have transformed the Rochester airport by offering service to more destinations and lowering average fares. I hope with your continued support, Rochester flyers, and the local business community, can benefit from expanded service to markets like Boston and Chicago, Las Vegas and beyond. I am confident that the business community would support such expansion

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