As I reported today, the Long Beach Area Chamber of Commerce has launched a letter-writing effort to get the public to put pressure on City Hall and ensure JetBlue stays at Long Beach Airport.
Stymied by lawsuits and other delays, terminal improvements have gone nowhere and JetBlue executives are getting impatient. In case you missed it, here's the link to the chamber's advocacy site with a form letter. The Chamber will eventually send all of the letters to Mayor Bob Foster and the council.
I'm told by the Chamber that they've received a good response since the story came out today, increasing their signatures from 132 Tuesday to 204 as of this afternoon.
Meanwhile, JetBlue has had little more to say about the issue since CEO Dave Barger made controversial statements to an aviation blog last month. Today, JetBlue denied my request for an interview with Barger, issuing the following statement:
We remain committed to our home in Long Beach for the time being. Our
Customers enjoy the airport's convenient features every day, and it's
home to more than 500 Crewmembers and many more Business Partners. Yet
there are airport improvements that were promised before we began flying
that have never been made. We're dedicated to improving the environment
our Crewmembers work in and our Customers experience every day, and
expect the city to honor their previous commitments. Recent public
comments by Dave reflect our long-standing views on this matter.
The fate of the airport has become a fascinating story through its years of development, and I get the sense that we are reaching its climax. The questions remain: Will the airport improvements move forward, and will JetBlue stay or go?
Paul Eakins reports on Long Beach City Hall, and local and regional
politics. A newcomer to the Press-
Kris Hanson reports on the Ports of Long Beach and Los Angeles,
covering environmental issues, economic triumphs and
pitfalls and trade trends of America’s largest port.
He also writes a weekly column “On The Waterfront”,
appearing Tuesdays, and also produces an occassional video
and column titled “On The Job,” which follows the hard-working
men and women who keep Southern California’s economy humming.
Karen Robes Meeks came to work for the Press-
Jet Blue is a $5 stock.
Where are they going to go, LAX? NO WAY Most of Jet Blues passengers come out of Orange County. There is no gate space in OC so they are not going there either.
Long Beach airport is simply a gate way for travelers going to other So Cal cities. Look at the vacancy rates in Long Beach hotels.
If Jet Blue demands a new terminal, then partner with the city and split the cost. Getting in and out of the airport is trouble free and you move very quickly.
Enough of this Jet Blue non sense about moving...get a brain people and think..