JetBlue's original and most common type of aircraft is the Airbus A320. A highly successful twin-engine, single-aisle jetliner, the A320 is the backbone of the JetBlue fleet; the airline expects to operate more than 200 Airbus A320's by 2012. JetBlue A320's are equipped with 150 seats and fly the busiest and longest routes in the JetBlue system. Nearly all of JetBlue's A320s were new deliveries and the average fleet age is a low 5.4 years, as of 2011. JetBlue continues to receive new A320's every month.
While JetBlue was initially an A320-only operator, the airline became a surprise launch customer for the new Brazilian-built Embraer E-190 regional jet, with an order for 100 aircraft plus 100 additional options. The E-190 started service with JetBlue in 2005. With a lower capacity of only 100 seats, the aircraft serves JetBlue's less-traveled routes. Approximately 50 Embraer E-190s are in service with JetBlue, with an average age of less than 4 years old, as of 2011.
While JetBlue brands itself as a low-cost carrier, all JetBlue aircraft are equipped with features not typically seen in the cabins of low-cost airlines. These include more legroom than competitors, seat-back television and entertainment systems with 36 channels of DirecTV, more than 100 channels of XM Satellite Radio, movies and Wi-Fi. JetBlue owns LiveTV, an in-flight entertainment company that provides in-flight TV service for JetBlue and other airlines such as Continental, Frontier and WestJet.
Low-cost airlines reap a large financial benefit by operating few types of aircraft. While many larger airlines operate up to a dozen different fleet types, low-cost airlines typically operate only one or two fleet types to keep costs down. JetBlue only operated Airbus A320 aircraft until 2005, when it added the Embraer 190. Having fewer fleet types leads to cost savings in maintenance, staffing, training, engineering, airport services and other areas. Many large low-cost airlines such as Southwest Airlines and Ryanair only operate a single aircraft type.
