Statement Of Sen. Patrick Leahy From News Conference Today At Which The U.S. Department Of Transportation Announced That jetBlue Airways Has Been Granted Rights To Fly Into And Out Of New England

September 16, 1999

[Below is the statement of Sen. Patrick Leahy on today's announcement by Rodney Slater, U.S. Secretary of Transportation, that jetBlue Airways has been granted exemptions from slot limitations at JFK airport in New York City to operate 75 takeoffs or landings. This will enable jetBlue to provide low-cost, high-quality service from New York to a number of cities in the East and Midwest, including Burlington. The Vermont Congressional delegation lobbied the Transportation Department to grant jetBlue the slots necessary for them to begin service at Burlington's airport.]

"In recent years, flying from Vermont in ever-smaller planes has been a metaphor for the shrinking choices available to Vermont consumers. And when you consider the prices, the prospect of flying is like paying for a Cadillac and being given a Yugo.

"The Northeast has been one of the last regions to enjoy the economic benefits of low-cost air carriers, but today's announcement is a giant step forward.

"I want to publicly thank the jetBlue team for having the foresight to see a business opportunity where others did not. I want to thank Rodney Slater and the Clinton Administration for recognizing that a lack of affordable air service was curtailing the economic development of large portions of the Northeast. And I want to thank the economic development team lead by Governor Dean and the City of Burlington, who helped me make such a compelling economic case to jetBlue. "I am delighted that this hurdle is behind us, and I look forward to being on one of your shiny new jets to New York in the near future."