JetBlue To Add RDU, Charlotte To Route

announced Thursday that it will add Raleigh-Durham International Airport as a destination starting July 20.

JetBlue said it would have four daily nonstop flights between RDU and New York's John F. Kennedy International Airport.

"New York is one of our top markets, and JetBlue, with their headquarters at JFK, is an airline we have been courting for many years," said Teresa Damiano, director of marketing for RDU. "We knew that RDU and JetBlue would be a great partnership, and we're glad they have decided to serve the ever-growing research triangle region."

The airline begins service at RDU during the heart of the busy summer travel season and during a period of increase number of passenger numbers.

In 2005, passenger traffic at RDU increased eight percent, and so far has increased three percent over 2005 numbers for the first two months of 2006.

JetBlue will begin operations at RDU with brand-new Embraer 190 aircraft. The 100-seat aircraft offers customers all-leather seats and entertainment options, with 36 channels of DIRECTV programming and more than 100 channels of XM Satellite Radio.

JetBlue currently serves 35 locations, not including RDU and Charlotte Douglas International Airport, which was also announced as a new destination Thursday. JetBlue has been in operation for six years.

JetBlue is the first new carrier at RDU since the arrival of Independence Air in the summer of 2004.