Posted on 05/25/2005 9:26:55 AM PDT by BurbankKarl
AIRPORT DISTRICT -- Passengers on Tuesday morning's inaugural flight of JetBlue service between Burbank and New York City were treated to New York-style hot dogs and pretzels in the terminal. And airport fire vehicles sprayed water over the airplane as it approached the gate.
Delia Ibarra, of Los Angeles, was the first passenger to get off the plane after it pulled up to Gate A9 at Bob Hope Airport.
"We used to come to Long Beach [Airport] but this is so much better for us," Ibarra said. "I am so excited."
JetBlue's three daily nonstop flights are the first service to the East Coast from Bob Hope. A fourth flight is scheduled to begin in July.
The incoming and outgoing inaugural flights Tuesday morning were full, airline officials said.
Most passengers listed convenience as their reason for flying with JetBlue.
Lorraine Hilliger of Encino excitedly held up a free T-shirt given to her by the airline to promote its new service.
"Is that too cute?" Hilliger asked, reading the "LAX: Don't even go there" slogan printed on the front of the shirt. "Check it out."
She was flying to New York to visit her daughter who attends college there and doesn't like the hassles of flying out of LAX, Hilliger said.
"It's so much easier," she said of Burbank. "I've come here many other times, and it was such a drag because there was nothing that went from Burbank to New York, but they do now."
Pearl Taylor, of Sherman Oaks, has been flying JetBlue out of Long Beach and made her reservation for the Burbank flight the first day they were available.
"It's finally nice to have the airport experience be hassle free," Taylor said. "I find JetBlue to be the friendliest airline I've ever flown on."
JetBlue's service kicked off as the airport celebrates its 75th anniversary, a point not missed by airport commission President Charlie Lombardo.
"This is the frosting on the cake," Lombardo said. "It's certainly a time to remember the airport's marvelous history, but the arrival of JetBlue reminds us that Bob Hope Airport has a wonderful future ahead of it."
JetBlue is the second new airline to begin flights to the airport this year. Delta Airlines began flights to Atlanta and Salt Lake City in January.
The bankruptcy of Aloha Airlines freed up terminal space for JetBlue to move in to the airport, which last year serviced 4.9 million passengers.
It's a good thing Burbank has been able to resist NIMBY pressure and keep commerical jet traffic in and out of the airport in play. What a resource.
Well, the NIMBY's have tried for thirty years to shut down the airport. I think there is a 10 year cooling off period after it was disclosed the City of Burbank has spent over $20 million on litigation over the years.
The Airport is jointly owned by the Cities of Burbank, Glendale, and Pasadena....
I live 5 minutes from the airport-- and I like it. My house is right under the small aircraft approach, so we hear small airplanes all the time, and we hear jets taking off and landing when the wind is blowing the right way.
But as for convenience-- it can't be beat.
I would only complain if the airport went to a 24 hour commerical landing/takeoff schedule-- right now I think they quit around 10pm and resume around 6am.
Great airport. BTW-- saw the JetBlue plane fueling up on the tarmac on my way home from work last night. Great! Hope to use it soon.
I read in the Daily News that they have sold 80% of their seats for the summer to JFK. Can't beat that!
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