Jet Blue: No Balls for ATL Fight

Just six months after arriving, JetBlue Airways is leaving Atlanta.

The New York discount carrier will end its single daily flights to Long Beach
and Oakland, Calif., on Dec. 4.

JetBlue executives, who had already cut back Long Beach flights, cited the
crossfire of the dogfight between Delta and AirTran in both markets.

JetBlue said it will instead use the planes to launch service between Boston and
Long Beach, a Los Angeles suburb, and to add flights from New York to Oakland.

In early September, JetBlue cut back from three daily flights to only one
late-night "redeye" flight between Atlanta and Long Beach, a Los Angeles suburb.
The carrier initiated a single redeye flight from Atlanta to Oakland at the same
time.

JetBlue CEO David Neeleman said it made more sense to use the aircraft elsewhere
than to stay in a fight with Delta Air Lines and AirTran Airways. The latter
added service to Los Angeles and San Francisco shortly after JetBlue.

Although it never had a large presence, JetBlue's arrival was noteworthy because
it brought cut-rate air service between Atlanta and the West Coast. Delta, which
had long enjoyed a near monopoly on nonstop West Coast service, responded by
cutting fares, adding flights and offering frequent flier bonuses.

AirTran's addition of flights assures competition will continue.