JetBlue Answers My Complaint re Their Buying Airbus, not Boeing Jets

email ^ | 5/2/03 | AirBus PR maven

[PoisedWoman]

Dear (PoisedWoman),

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,

Jean Haskell
JetBlue Customer Commitment

[Beck_isright]

"It sure is here in Seattle, where Boeing dumps workers by the thousands every month."

Alot of that has to do with the tax and spend liberals running Seattle and the state of Washington by and large. Dallas-Ft. Worth can't wait to invite the manufacturing facilities into their area and will do so with about 10 years tax free.

[Nick Danger]

This could be fun to watch, depending on whether the contract price is expressed Dollars or Euros. Most people think that the value of the Dollar will shrink relative to the Euro, at least for the next few years.

If JetBlue got a good price, and it's in dollars, then they just locked in Airbus's lowest price on A320's. They will be able to go to Airbus and threaten them with actually buying one... unless Airbus pays them off to get out of the deal. Then they could turn around and buy Boeing jets with money they squeezed out of Airbus.

If the contract price is in Euros, they're screwed.

[thucydides]

I suppose it is now part of the European conglomerate Nestle, which has been buying up food related businesses all over the world for the last 20 years. But I do remember reading years ago that Perrier had bought Poland Spring (and also Calistoga in California). People were annoyed when their prices immediately went up after the acquisitions.

[snopercod]

Real Americans build their own airplanes and fly where and when they want.

[Jonez712]

Fokker?? *snickers* ;)

I like Boeing aircraft the best, especially the 747 and the 767. Although I've never flown in an airbus. The only planes I actually disliked were the MD-80 and the Saab turbo-prop 30-seater.

[RightWhale]

The bedbug letter.

Could be worse.

[John Valentine]

I'm sorry, but I gotta tell ya....

When it comes to comfort, it ain't the aircraft, it's the airline.

It all depends on the seat width, seat pitch, aisle width, and chair design, and those issues are totally independent of the particular aircraft.

You can configure a manifestly comfortable and spacious Beoeing 777 or a totally cramped and jammed in Airbus A-340. I've flown 'em all and I know.

[Mike4Freedom]

It really is pretty foolish to hurt yourself and eliminate a competitive seller because they took a stand that you disagreed with. You are all sounding like they attacked us.

I have seen this from the other end. I work for a company that makes components for commercial airliners. Our two biggest customers are, of course, Boeing and Airbus. I was shocked to hear one of our employees saying that we should refuse to sell to Airbus. I asked him if he was voluntering for the layoff that would result when we lost nearly half our sales volume.

Common sense says that you don't let political differences make you hurt yourself by eliminating customers or potential suppliers.

[RS]

747's are great especially upstairs - got bumped up there on a few LA-Tokyo flights, but on flights around Asia they really pack the seats in.

767 & 777 are fine - 777's feel really comfortable

The Airbuses are fine to fly in , but I always get a feeling that they will not "age" well.

[Crusader21stCentury]

When it was known as "The Perrier Group of America" or its legal Corporate name of "Great Spring Waters" it had exclusive contracts with Perrier, but Nestle has always played a role.
Just last year Nestle formally took over. The number of Name Brand waters they own would surprise you.

[Paleo Conservative]

It sure is here in Seattle, where Boeing dumps workers by the thousands every month.

The state and local governments in Washington state have done quite a bit to drive Boeing away from the area.

[sinkspur]

It really is pretty foolish to hurt yourself and eliminate a competitive seller because they took a stand that you disagreed with.

The only reason Airbus is at all competitive is because it is subsidized by four European governments.

Left to itself, Airbus would crater.

[KrisKrinkle]

I thought I'd noticed a lot of loose screws around here lately.

[TalBlack]

Airbus has been propped up (subsidised)for years by the Governments mentioned in the Email for the express purpose of cutting into ALL American areo co's. With out Gov't subsidies they couldn't compete, AND WOULD HAVE GONE UNDER. Their future designs are just steroidal present designs while Boeing and other American Co's design planes that move the tech/performance edge FORWARD!

[jim419]

Great slogan. Always fly the flag. Usually, you can know the aircraft when you make reservation, although sometimes equipment gets switched.

[Celtic Conservative]

... but some of those fokkers were messerschmitts!

Slainte,

CC

[RLK]

Uh, Boeing has laid off 25,000 of its commercial aircraft American workers and is having its planes built in sia.

[teletech]

I got the same "form" letter response. I knew it would be a waste of time to write them an email but it made me feel better. BOYCOTT JET BLUE!!

[_Jim]

I think you people need your heads examined by professionals.

Secondary to that, re-education from the ground up (what we used to call 'the basics') is called for.

Common sense as well as an understanding of basic economics seems to be completely MISSING from your brains - you're now resorting to throwing temper tantrums if 'the view' you happen to see at the moment doesn't fit your two-year-old-level education ... JUST LIKE THE LEFT.

[_Jim]

BOYCOTT JET BLUE!!

Would it be too much if I asked some of you people to 'sit down and shut up'.