Served As Chief Operating Officer, ATO Chairman For Agency

JetBlue Airways announced Thursday Russell G. Chew has agreed to join JetBlue as Chief Operating Officer (COO), effective March 19. Chew joins JetBlue after four years with the Federal Aviation Administration as Chief Operating Officer and Chairman of the Air Traffic Organization.

Before that, Chew spent 17 years with American Airlines in a variety of roles, including as Managing Director of its System Operations Center.

"We are very pleased to have Russ join our team," said JetBlue CEO David Neeleman. "Russ brings a wealth of industry and government experience that will help lead JetBlue into a new era of customer service, comfort and operational reliability. Our leadership team is strengthened, and will better serve JetBlue's 11,000 crewmembers as we continue to grow our airline."

Mr. Chew will be responsible for the airline's operations of 550 daily flights, leading JetBlue's Airports, Operational Planning, System Operations Center, Flight Operations, Technical Operations, Inflight Service, and Safety departments.

"JetBlue truly is a remarkable customer service company, with an impressive track record of earning customers' loyalty through friendly service and low fares," Chew said. "I look forward to meeting the JetBlue crewmembers who made this success possible, and serving their needs so that they may continue to provide the best service to our customers."

That impressive track record has taken a brutal beating of late, however, as the low-cost carrier was forced to cancel a significant portion of its flight schedule for six days last month, in the wake of a vicious northeast snowstorm that left some planes -- and passengers -- stranded on the tarmac for as long as 11 hours.

No doubt that JetBlue hopes Chew's experience managing operations at the FAA and American may help the carrier avoid such situations in the future.

"We are excited to have Russ join JetBlue's Executive Leadership team, with his experience managing the system operations center for the world's largest airline, and also overseeing the world's most heavily traveled air system as COO of the FAA," said Dave Barger, JetBlue's President.

"As our airline grows into new markets, it is even more important to keep one eye on the future while making sure today's customers and our crewmembers are well served with reliable and comfortable flights, the foundation of the JetBlue Experience."

FMI: www.jetblue.com