Free Republic

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Low-cost airline JetBlue Airways Corp. on Thursday said first-quarter profit jumped 34 percent, and ordered as much as $4 billion of new Airbus aircraft as most of its far-bigger rivals feverishly slash costs to avoid bankruptcy. (Check Link for Entire Article)

TOULOUSE, France -- Airbus won an order from JetBlue Airways Corp. for as many as 115 airplanes valued at $6.4 billion, people familiar with the planned purchase said yesterday.JetBlue, with a fleet of 39 Airbus A320 single-aisle planes, placed a firm order for 65 more and options for an additional 50, the people said. The $6.4 billion value is based on list prices.The firm order is the biggest this year. Toulouse, France-based Airbus and its rival, The Boeing Co., are battling for dwindling orders as war, the economy and a respiratory-disease epidemic keep people from flying. Discount carriers such as...