JET BLUE ; PREPARING FOR FINANCING

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.

With the BCG Matric analysis, we can argue that Easy Jet enjoys a viable competitive position because of its actual market growth. However, its prices have been compared with those of rival firms. This has clarified that Easy Jet emphasizes on being a low-cost carrier with no surplus in-flight services. Writers such as Quelch & Deshpande (2004, p. 71) argue that the Boston Consulting Group growth/share matrix has offered an opportunity to establish the market share of Easy Jet and the company's growth rate. In the context of the company's low cost market, it is clear that the market is still are still increasing. In addition, with the current fleet volume of 80 aircrafts, Easy Jet can serve 160 routes across Europe. Industry experts have associated such massive penetration with the rise in numbers of passengers and a relative rise in market share. Consequently, it is clear that the company has become a star. Nevertheless, Easy Jet must expand its market share for it to transform into a source of income after the decline of the market's growth rate. With respect to the company's Boston Consulting Group growth/share matrix analysis, we can claim that the cash flow of Easy Jet from operating activities have declined as well as the annual finances. Nevertheless, the acquiring firm's cash flow statement is the main area of focus (Butler &

JetBlue is a pro at utilizing its resources and structure. As such, JetBlue has proven to be efficient in its internal environment. Out of the physical and human aspects of the internal environment JetBlue focuses on human as the key factor. JetBlue views its employees and their skills as the key to a successful structure by emphasizing elements of loyalty, satisfaction, service quality, productivity, capability, and output quality. JetBlue reflects a culture of employees that understand how to retain customers and can perform under various situations with an equally varied consumer base. In addition to human capital, JetBlue uses physical assets to set them apart from the rest. The airline fleet of JetBlue is very precisely selected. From its new Airbus A321 to its Airbus 320, JetBlue prides itself on comfort and luxury. Other perks offered by JetBlue include lower priced airfare compared to that of its competitors and in-flight entertainment options that succeed its competition. Internal weaknesses include a

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.

The key external factors like the growth in the economy, disposable income, and fuel prices have negatively affected JetBlue. It was compelled to change its strategy several times and in 2011 had an income of $86 million down from $97 million in 2010. The growing consumer interest in leisure travel has positively affected JetBlue. The success of JetBlue has been attributed to growing consumer interest in leisure travel.

5. What recommendations would you make to JetBlue on how to allocate their aircraft purchases between the E190 and the A320? Defend your recommendations.

The Cost of debt is determined by using the average of YTM of the 4 JetBlue debt instruments provided in Exhibit 4. The exact value is 6.91%, and a CAPM cost of equity is determined to be 10.50% using the risk-free rate, market risk premium and comparable beta from Southwest of 1.10. The cost of capital is determined to be 6.90%. Running the DCF analysis, JetBlue is currently valued at $2.7bn. Distributing equity value over the shares outstanding gives a share price of $66.51. This proposed price of the IPO is highly overpriced, considering that the underwriters have priced it within a range of $22-$24.

JetBlue Airways Corporation (JetBlue) was founded in 1998 in Delaware by David Neeleman, a former Southwest executive. The airline began operations in 2000 based out of JFK International Airport (JFK) in New York. JetBlue currently has over 12,900 employees and has been repeatedly ranked as number one in customer service among low-cost carriers by J.D. Power & Associates. As of December 31, 2010 the company operates over 650 flights daily, servicing 63 destinations in 21 states, including Puerto Rico, and eleven countries in the Caribbean and Latin America. The JetBlue’s goal from inception was to distinguish itself as a low-fare, low-cost passenger airline, offering high-quality customer service and a differentiated product.

JetBlue Airlines, a low-fare commercial airline, has planned to go public towards the end of 2001. During the process the firm had restructured their initial price from $22- 24 per share to $26 – 28 per share.

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.

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.

•Neeleman offered passengers a unique flying experience by providing new aircrafts, simple and low fares, leather seats, free Live TV at every seat, pre-assigned seating, reliable performance, and high-quality customer service. JetBlue focused on point-to-point service to large metropolitan areas with high average fares or highly traveled markets that were underserved. JetBlue’s operating strategy had produced the lowest cost per available seat mile of any of the major U.S. airlines in 2001—6.98 cents vs. 10.08 cents.

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.

JetBlue’s product can be considered innovate in terms some of their products are unique and new. They exchanged new experience among their flights and the relationship with their customer’s. They adapt their products with the customer’s wants and demands, this means that their products exceptionally implement to make customers happy but also to distinguish them for the competitors. For example the new seats or the foods and beverage that are full time serve to the customer’s. Another exchanged is customer’s feed-back and the improvement of their services by having a strategy to become more popular.