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"?

[cyborg]

Thanks for pretty much making abundantly clear what I've been failing to say (or try to,whatever! I need sleep).

[Brian Allen]

<< People - Airbus in NOT a French company. >>

Bullshit it's not.

The French are by far Airbus's biggest shareholders and its heavily-subsidised aircraft, [Initial Capital, operating Capital, design, manufacture, marketing, sales and finance Capital and guarantees] in every way in every model inferior to their nearest American equivilent, destroy American jobs.

Also, in its typically French-slut-approach to "sales" at any price, Airbus -- by breaking the decades long practice among manufacturers of refusing to sell to operators and/or countries unable to meet minimum operating standards -- has contributed to the world's downward spiral insofar as operating [Safety] standards are concerned.

Effectively Airbus is French to its eyeballs.

Jet Blue will never see a penny of mine.

[timestax]

Be American, buy America, Fly American! 3 posted on 04/30/2003 8:39 PM PDT by need_a_screen_name

Ditto!!

[blanknoone]

Airplanes are huge capital investments. When Jet Blue sends their business to France, it is a huge stimulus to them, and not to us. If they buy Boeing planes, it is a big stimulus to the US economy and there for benefits its passengers and all of us. Given that Jet Blue and South West (the only 2 successful airlines currently) both have a single plane strategy, I say boycott Jetblue until they are willing to switch to a Boeing single plane strategy. This would have the bonus effect of being the HUGE effect as well as story about "consequences" No wine and cheese boycott would have the effectiveness of a major and rapidly growing airline switching from Airbus to Boeing. That would hurt france bad...and very very publicly. No denying that boycott's effectiveness.

[Ferris]

Happy to be of service...

[Arkinsaw]

Well if I had time, I'd visit South Carolina just because the NAALCP said no should. I'd mail Kwesi all the rebel flag souvenirs I bought.

I've never been much of a boycotter. I never boycotted Disney or Holiday Inn when I was asked. I do turn down Chinese products as much as I can.

France has always been a pain, but that was just because they were French. I am not even necessarily as irritated at their role in this war as some are. What really set me off against them was their efforts to influence our elections by targeting Republican districts with retaliatory tarrifs. That in combination with the rest makes it appropriate in my opinion.

[faithincowboys]

so... Are you telling me that the recent layoffs at Boeing is unrealted to JetBlue's decision? I'm not saying only it caused the layoffs, but it clearly didn't help. This coupled with China's decision to go with Airbus rather than Boeing doesn't help the Good Old USA.

This company has cast its' lot with the French and EU against America, and we should cast our lot with their competitors. Let them become a carrier in Europe!

[timestax]

I've flown in Airbusses and let me tell you , they squeak and rattle on the tarmac during takeoffs and landings! It feels like I'm on a old Metro city bus that's hitting every pothole in the city! Very poor quality.

[cyborg]

I think people see France's position as ungreatfulness. America came to France's rescue a number of times. Perhaps this is what is driving much of it. I will soon find out for myself what France really thinks of Americans.

[faithincowboys]

Well, I'm glad that you don't consider them your enemy- there is a certain charming innocence in that. When you realize that they hate you like poison (which they manifestly do) maybe you will share our antipathy towards them.

[timestax]

. When Jet Blue sends their business to France,

I would bet that somebody for Jet Blue got a big fat, under the table kickback.

[gcruse]

Newsmax is plumbing the sewer and losing my respect at a fast clip. The decision to buy this aircraft was made way before this French thing. One reason JetBlue is able to offer low fares is by having only one type of aircraft to service. If they bought Boeing, their maintenance costs would go up. This is a business decision. Newsmax is being idiotic and anyone who boycotts JetBlue over this is no better than Newsmax.

[Arkinsaw]

I think people see France's position as ungreatfulness. America came to France's rescue a number of times. Perhaps this is what is driving much of it. I will soon find out for myself what France really thinks of Americans.

Ungratefulness was always sort of a joke to me. But seriously, interfering in our electoral politics is sinister in my view.

[usafsk]

Let's see, Airbus also employs Spainards, Italians and Brits. Oh yeah, and Airbus is the largest buyer of GE and Pratt Whitney engines, made in America and employing thousands of Americans.

As a very frequent flier, I can tell you that Airbus is superior in every way to Boeing's notoriously narrow, passenger squeezing interiors. Airbus' safety record is actually better than Boeing's, although they are very close and fine points can be argued either way.

BTW, McDonnell Douglas and Lockheed frequently worked around the minimum operating standard rules in the past. Airbus wasn't the first and Boeing is following down the path.

So boycott if you want. Squeeze yourself into a skinny Boeing seat. God forbid you find yourself in the famous "middle seat" in the 5 seat center section of a 777. You wake in the middle of the Atlantic with race horses bladder and have to wake up or climb over at least two people to escape.

Boycott's can be effective when targeting products that are completely French. Boycotting Airbus is silly. Focus on wholly-owned French companies, like Accor. Avoid travel to France. Don't hurt American workers, or our allies workers, with a pointless boycott. FOCUS ON THE FRENCH.

[cyborg]

I am hearing too many stories from Americans abroad that Parisians are very rude. It is beginning to concern me. I try to not listen to second hand ethnicity info. Well I do have my ghetto-fied Brooklynite Italian answer if anyone is rude to me. I am bookmarking this thread because I will eat the humble pie AND kiss Hillary Clinton if I am wrong about the French! Will keep you posted.

[timestax]

. I will soon find out for myself what France really thinks of Americans.

Hold on to your wallet with a death grip over there! Friend had his wallet picked (stolen and gone) while on subway to Paris!

[cyborg]

I have about five copies of my passport. No prob. I am a woman. You know where women like to stuff money for safekeeping!

[timestax]

kewl!

[Blue Collar Christian]

And I'll bet you'd use products for a hunting trip made in China. You are not alone, some of my very best friends are that way too. I will boycott just about everything that represents anti-Americanism to me, and many people will always look to get the most bang for their buck.

IMO, it's selfish shortsightedness. In REAL life, that's America.

God bless America, where I can't force my ideals on someone else, and no one else can force their ideals on me.

[Brian Allen]

<< .... As a very frequent flier ..... >>

Appears you have the advantage of me there, so I will defer to your Very Frequent Flier status.

I have only a very-limited and limiting Aviation Experience.

Last time I looked in my logbook my flying experience amounted to only a paltry twenty-nine thousand six hundred Command Hours in a logged total time approaching 34,000 hours and a pilot and PAX time equivilent to around 770 global circumnavigations.

[And I NEVER! fly Coach.]

Cordially -- Brian