JetBlue Snubs U.S. Aircraft Companies for the French

NewsMax ^

[budanski]

When JetBlue Airways Corp. recently announced that it had ordered 65 A320 aircraft from the French Airbus company, with options for 50 more, a lot of the boycott-France folks got up in arms - none more so than a former Capitol Hill staffer who helped write the FAA rules, which were designed to discourage such foreign airliner purchases in the first place.

JetBlue's newly ordered aircraft will be delivered starting in 2004. In addition to the 41 aircraft in service, JetBlue already had 46 A320s on order. With the latest French order, JetBlue's fleet could grow to as many as 202 French-made A320 jetliners by 2012.

Here is what Carl Biersack is telling NewsMax and anyone else who will listen:

"I was one of the congressional staffers who wrote the FAA Reauthorization that changed the rules at the slot-controlled airports. One of the conditions I put in the law was that the allocation of the slots would be based on the maximum contribution to America?s aviation system/infrastructure.

"This was meant to ensure that slots would go from those controlled airports to cities where there would be lots of passengers or to hubs because they will connect to many other cities, and, finally, it was meant to require carriers to buy American airplanes.

Clinton Again

"When one writes laws - especially authorization laws - one cannot be as specific as appropriators can where they make earmarks. Well, Clinton's DOT [Department of Transportation chief] Rodney Slater allowed JetBlue to get the slots - knowing they were going to buy French jets.

"A number of my fellow staffers - who worked on the law and had left the Hill - complained that the JetBlue decision was not within the spirit of the law: It was neither going to maximize passenger benefits nor buy American. But as we all know, the fidelity of the Clinton administration to the letter of the law was just not possible.

"Our complaints fell on deaf ears. Here is just another illustration of the Clinton's "empowering" our enemies by inaction or insufficient action.?

JetBlue, a low-fare, low-cost passenger airline that launched operations in February 2000, features roomy leather seats equipped with free live satellite television. Its travel agents work from their home computers.

The airline is doing well in a notoriously slow market, but not well enough to routinely rub its French connection in the face of an American public still stinging from that country's antics before, during and after Operation Iraqi Freedom.

For its part, Airbus is careful to point out in its press releases that each order for its aircraft means a boost to the U.S. economy, as Airbus spends some 40 percent of its procurement budget with hundreds of suppliers in more than 40 U.S. states. "In 2002 alone, Airbus spent $5.5 billion in U.S. contracts - more than it spent in any other country. Using U.S. Department of Commerce figures, that dollar amount translates into Airbus support of 120,000 American jobs."

Airbus prefers to tout not its its made-in-France airframe but its plans to build the world's largest jetliner: a double-decker that will hold 555 passengers, 35 percent more than Boeing's 33-year-old 747.

Meanwhile, Airbus chief executive Noel Forgeard sits in his top-floor office by the airport in Toulouse, France, watching Europe's largest building taking shape across the runway. The new factory is the venue where the giant passenger jet will be constructed, thanks in generous measure to JetBlue.

Forgeard feels warmly toward his big customer across the Atlantic:

"As JetBlue continues to conquer the odds, their repeated choice of Airbus aircraft proves that efficiency on all levels, including equipment and operations, is a must for an airline's continuing health. With this [latest] order, JetBlue demonstrates that with the right people, the right product and the right cost structure, airlines can grow, even in this current, challenging, environment."

Not feeling so warmly are upset Americans who are sending e-mails to JetBlue voicing concern about its cozy relationship with Airbus.

One example: "Has anyone told JetBlue that there is an American company located over there in Everett, Washington that makes perfectly good airplanes"?

[budanski]

Head over to www.JetBlue.com (and then clicked on SpeakUp button at top of page) and let them know.

[cyborg]

I am not into this boycott France rubbish. Who cares? If it were my company and I thought Airbus was the best airplane for the lowest price for a discount flyer, I would buy airbus.

[need_a_screen_name]

Be American, buy America, Fly American!

[winner3000]

...not if my customers care.

And I Care. JetBlue will never see any of my business.

[Arkinsaw]

Head over to www.JetBlue.com (and then clicked on SpeakUp button at top of page) and let them know.

Did it. Good for you.

[Russell Scott]

If Iran made the best airplane, would you buy it from them?

[Incorrigible]

Heck, Boeing's not even sure it wants to be in the passenger airplane business so who can blame JetBlue?

[applemac_g4]

This is part of Jetblue's business plan - one type of jet. Southwest has 737's. Jetblue picked an Airbus variant long before all this stuff with France happened, and it's unlikely that they are going to change now.

Of course, that doesn't mean you shouldn't boycott them for using French products. I won't fly them.

[cyborg]

Yes I would. That is business. We do way more business with the Sudan which does much worse than the French. I do not see mass outrage at the Sudanese gum arabic business. This is capitalism. This is not about liking one business because of the nationaity. It's making money. Jet Blue is the only airline making money.

[freedombrigade]

Economic security is just as important and we need to defeat our enemies, i.e. the Frenchies, there also.

[Rockpile]

I wonder if the Airbus brass are in love with Communist China like Boeing is?

[toupsie]

Hate to say it about a French product but I fly JetBlue as much as possible because of their jet. Those JetBlue Airbuses are the best planes I have ever ridden on. They are the best airline to fly in US. The only airline better is Singapore Airlines.

[Revenge Of Daffy-Duck]

I like Jet Blue and I am a member of their sky-miles program. I have always had good experiences with them. However, one thing that always troubled me was the use of Airbus planes. It seems to me that when I read about a large passenger plane crashing for no apparent reason, 3 times out of 4 it is an Airbus. And as I recall from my reading, one of the main things that makes it attractive is that it is cheaper than most of its competitors. That does not necessarily reassure me.

[kellynla]

Here is an email I received from Air France. "Thank you for your e-mail regarding our choice of the Airbus A320 aircraft.
Airbus is, in fact, not a French company. It is a European organization
owned by British, Spanish, French and German concerns. While the A320 is
assembled in France, Airbus also operates numerous manufacturing and
assembly plants throughout Europe and spends more money with suppliers
in the U.S. than in any other country. In 2002 alone, Airbus spent $5.5
billion in the U.S., supporting 120,000 American jobs at hundreds of
companies located across some 40 U.S. states.
As an airline that calls New York City home, we are very sensitive to
the patriotic measures and sacrifices of Americans in these difficult
times. We, like you, look forward to a time in the not too distant
future when the international cooperation that goes into building our
aircraft finds its way into world affairs."

Sincerely,

Tiffany
JetBlue Customer Commitment

I had canceled a free round trip ticket NYC/PARIS on the Concorde with Air France. Au revoir, France!

[kellynla]

Correction. This was from Jet Blue as you can readily see. LOL

[cyborg]

French people are not my enemy. Chirac may be, but I have never boycotted anyone for any reason. We would be better off turning the anti-french zealotry to utilizing our own oil, or finding a new, better resource entirely. That way we would not even have to deal with Saudi Arabia,etc. and let them sink by themselves.

[Arkinsaw]

I am not into this boycott France rubbish. Who cares? If it were my company and I thought Airbus was the best airplane for the lowest price for a discount flyer, I would buy airbus.

Al-Qaeda members selling cigarettes in North Carolina, they were a lot cheaper since no taxes were paid. Would you buy them?

Shoes made by slave labor in China. They use the money to buy missiles, planes, etc. from Russia to build up the capability to take out our aircraft carriers. The shoes are are cheaper. Would you buy them?

Cuban cigars are the best and are reasonable. But you support a bloody dictator. Buy those?

Henry Ford did a lot of good business in Germany around World War II. Right thing to do?

France attempts to stymie our foreign policy, block us at the UN, accuse us of imperialism while their troops are in Ivory Coast unilaterally. They leaked intel to the Serbs during Bosnia and provided intel to Saddam in the run up to the current war. They provided Iraq with WMD material and nuclear expertise. They have used EU anti-trust bodies to attempt to interfer in mergers that have been approved by our own government in the attempt to reduce our world competitiveness. They take us to the WTO but continue to subsidize their armaments industry to be able to compete against ours. They promised certain things to our diplomats prior to this war and then did the exact opposite in an ambush style. They attempted to interfere in our electoral processes by putting WTO approved tarrifs almost exclusively on Republican congressional districts in order to increase joblessness there and get Democrats elected.

But you are free to save a buck while you can.

[mgstarr]

Thanks for posting that and reminding people to do their homework before they start bashing a successful American airline.
People - Airbus in NOT a French company.

[RichardW]

I've written to them twice. We should do everthing possible to reverse this decision. If the shoe were on the other foot you can be sure they would do this to us. The French have been giving us the middle finger ever since WWII and deserve no quarter.

[Revenge Of Daffy-Duck]

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