Jetblue: Managing Growth

JetBlue Airways, the latest entrant in the airlines industry has gone through the initial stages (entrepreneurial and collectivity) of the organizational life cycle rapidly under the successful leadership of David Neelman. JetBlue Airways is currently in the formalization stage of the life cycle where in it needs to create procedures and control systems to effectively manage its growth. Also as it proceeds to grow further to reach the elaboration stage, JetBlue needs to continue to align itself with the environment in order to maintain its sustained growth.

Before David Neeleman’s non-compete agreement with Southwest Airlines expired, he envisioned the concept of starting a low-fare airline that would combine common sense, innovation, and technology and bring the humanity back into air travel (Gittel & O’Reilly, 2001). In 1998, JetBlue was born. In order for David to fulfill his goal of a “do-it-right” kind of airline, he needed to recruit superior industry veterans who were willing to start from scratch and place an emphasis on employees and customers. Each of these individuals, from the President, General Counsel, CFO, and the HR director, wanted to create an airline that was fun, had

JetBlue is an American airline company whose headquarter is located in the New York City. They are a low-cost airline who is rapidly growing in the Unites States. According to Wikipedia, “David Neeleman founded the company in February 1999, under the name "NewAir.” Many of their approach come from Southwest Airlines include low prices airfares. However, they differ in the amenities offered to the customers.

JetBlue Airways has been affected by key external factors. The political factor that has affected JetBlue is the resentment towards union formation. Currently, JetBlue is a non-union company. This helps it keep its fixed costs low. Further, there are positive

David Neeleman found JetBlue in 1999 with the mission “to bring humanity back to air travel". This goal is achieved by creating a company that offers comfortable, friendly travel at low fares and by this to differentiate themselves from the mass.

1. There are a few trends in the US airline industry. One is consolidation, wherein existing players merge in an attempt to lower their costs and generate operating synergies. The most recent major merger was the United Continental merger, which is still an ongoing affair, but has created the largest airline in the United States by market share (Martin, 2012). Another trend is towards low-cost carriers. In the US, Southwest has been a long-running success and JetBlue a strong new competitor, but in other countries this business model has proven exceptionally successful. The third major trend is the upward trend in jet fuel prices, and the increasing importance that this puts on hedging fuel prices and capacity management (Hinton, 2011).

JetBlue has been one of the most successful airlines since it first entered the industry in December of 1999. Founder, David Neeleman, set out to succeed by offering low-cost air travel in hopes of perpetuating his services to as many people as he could across the US. He was very adamant about having a very customer oriented business that catered to the needs of all. In doing so he wanted to emphatically promote his obligation to safety, caring, integrity, passion, while allowing the customers to have fun while traveling. There motto helps portray Neeleman’s belief stating “You Above All”. His primary goals had been to follow Southwest’s objectives of offering low rates to customers, focusing on customer’s needs and comforts while distinguishing itself with their amenities. Neeleman’s other goal was to establish his low-cost leadership strategy by concentrating his airline in a large popular metropolitan area that already is already correlated with high airfare (Peterson, 2004). He then began operating based out of the New York metropolitan area at John F. Kennedy International airport with his secondary locations in Washington D.C., Boston and Los Angeles.

JetBlue Airways Corporation was formed in August 1998 as a low-fare, low-cost but high service passenger airline serving select United States market. JetBlue's operations strategy was designed to achieve a low cost, whilst offering customers a pleasing and differentiated flying experience. JetBlue has had a successful business model and strong financial results during that period, and performed well in comparison to other airline companies in the US during the period between 2000 and 2003. It had been the only other airline apart from Southwest airlines, to have been profitable during the aftermath of the September 11, 2001

1. JetBlue's strategy for success in the marketplace is based on the cost leadership strategy, as outlined by Michael Porter (QuickMBA, 2010). This strategy relies on delivering products or services at a lower price than competitors, and using that cost leadership as the basis by which to attract customers. JetBlue essentially built their business model after Southwest Airlines, and the company's founders had experience with Southwest that helped them learn about the business. The JetBlue approach to cost leadership is focused on the mass market.

Only two years in existence, Jet Blue decided to become a public company and issue an initial public offering. Jet Blue’s decision came in 2002, just as the airline industry experienced a substantial downturn following the terrorist attacks of September 2011. Despite these challenges, Jet Blue remained profitable and experienced aggressive growth. In order to support this enormous growth and offset portfolio losses, the public offering seemed to be best course of action.

Jet Blue has an opportunity to remain cutting edge in the airline industry by continuing to be low-cost and expanding carrier. A great market for Jet Blue to expand to would be towards the Caribbean's. As well as possibly lobbying Washington to lift travel sanctions in Cuba, which at one point was a major vacation getaway for Americans. This opportunity fits into Jet Blues current business model of short distance flights at a lower cost than the competition.

The JetBlue Airways Corporation (JBLU), incorporated in Delaware in 1998, is the fifth largest passenger carrier in the U.S. based on revenue passenger miles. With an average of 800 daily flights, it serves more than 30 million passengers and provides flights to 82 destinations in the U.S., Caribbean, and Latin America (JetBlue, 2016). JetBlue’s operations are concentrated in the domestic market and generates 28% revenues from international routes. Its passenger revenues accounted for 91% of its total operating revenue. During 2013, JetBlue added seven new cities to its network. It also recorded operating revenue of $5.4 billion(Marketrealist,2016). Plus, it reached its highest net income of $168 million by increasing its diluted earnings per share by 30%, from $0.40 to $0.52, in 2012(Marketrealist,2016). The following chart below shows the current stock information on JetBlue.

1. The decision maker in the Jet Blue case was former CEO David Neeleman. He was the person who started Jet Blue and formed it to become a low cost airline provider, providing luxury and comfort and destinations to various cities at a low affordable cost. He understood how to cut cost and keep operating expenses low, and as a result Jet Blue had rapid expansion and flew to 53 destinations in 21 states, including Mexico, Puerto Rico, and the Caribbean. Up until 2007, when David Barger took over, Neeleman made Jet Blue prosperous and consistently made strategic moves in order to produce the best outcome in the areas of maintenance, total operating expenses, and benefits. Even as a response to the ice storm in 2007 where passengers were

In June 2014, JetBlue launched Mint, it’s very first premium-class option. In the months since, it's become a popular choice for execs traveling between the two coasts.

When the start of this industry started to really boom, JetBlue was one of the top companies. They were the first airline to equip their entire fleet with seatback TV screens and to have flight attendants pass out food during a delay, and offer massages. They kept their customer’s loyalty by keeping up with the outstanding service, but didn’t necessarily keep their equipment and planes up to date. The competitors have shaped up while JetBlue has just maintained a level of mediocre functioning. This aspect of the company’s recent downfall is due to its