President & COO Joanna Geraghty Transitions
to CEO, Effective February 12, 2024
JetBlue Airways (NASDAQ: JBLU) today announced the promotion of
Warren Christie to chief operating officer effective February 12,
2024, concurrent with the previously announced transition of
current president and chief operating officer Joanna Geraghty to
the role of chief executive officer. Christie will report to
Geraghty.
“I’m thrilled that my first leadership appointment is to promote
Warren into the role of chief operating officer, where he will help
lead our teams in our effort to improve reliability and restore
profitability in our airline,” said Geraghty. “With 35 years of
aviation experience – 21 of those at JetBlue – he is well
positioned to help us tackle the unique challenges we face while
continuing to lead with safety as a core element of our
culture.”
Christie currently serves as head of safety, security, fleet
operations, airports and JetBlue University. In his newly expanded
role, Christie will lead the airline’s day-to-day operational
performance assuming responsibility for the airline’s safe and
reliable operations, overseeing JetBlue’s airports, flight ops,
inflight experience, safety, security, system operations, and
technical operations functions, as well as JetBlue University’s
training academy.
Christie said: “JetBlue has a beloved brand and culture, and to
keep customers coming back we must run a reliable operation and
deliver on JetBlue’s award-winning service consistently. I will
work to ensure our frontline crewmembers have the right systems,
resources, and tools to support their continued success.”
Christie has a robust aviation career spanning 30+ years. After
graduating from the University of Notre Dame in 1988, he was
commissioned as an Officer in the United States Navy where he
piloted the F/A-18 Hornet. He served as a Naval Aviator and
instructed at the Navy Fighter Weapons School (TOPGUN) where he led
staff and student training and was responsible for the design of
the graduate level strike-fighter tactics training curriculum.
Christie joined JetBlue in 2003 holding a variety of roles of
increasing responsibility, including vice president, operations
planning and training; vice president, JetBlue University; senior
vice president, safety, security, and air operations; senior vice
president, regulatory and training; and senior vice president,
safety, security, fleet operations, airports and JetBlue
University.
About JetBlue JetBlue is New York's Hometown Airline®,
and a leading carrier in Boston, Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood, Los
Angeles, Orlando and San Juan. JetBlue, known for its low fares and
great service, carries customers to more than 100 destinations
throughout the United States, Latin America, the Caribbean, Canada
and Europe. For more information and the best fares, visit
jetblue.com.
Cautionary Language Regarding Forward-Looking Information
This press release contains forward-looking statements within the
meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. We
intend such forward-looking statements to be covered by the safe
harbor provisions for forward-looking statements contained in
Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section
21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. All
statements other than statements of historical facts contained in
this press release may be forward-looking statements. In some
cases, you can identify forward-looking statements by terms such as
“expects,” “plans,” “intends,” “anticipates,” “indicates,”
“remains,” “believes,” “estimates,” “forecast,” “guidance,”
“outlook,” “may,” “will,” “should,” “seeks,” “goals,” “targets” or
the negative of these terms or other similar expressions.
Additionally, forward-looking statements include statements that do
not relate solely to historical facts, such as statements which
identify uncertainties or trends, discuss the possible future
effects of current known trends or uncertainties, or which indicate
that the future effects of known trends or uncertainties cannot be
predicted, guaranteed, or assured. Forward-looking statements
contained in this press release include, without limitation,
statements regarding executive transitions. Forward-looking
statements involve risks, uncertainties and assumptions, and are
based on information currently available to us. Actual results may
differ materially from those expressed in the forward-looking
statements due to many factors, including, without limitation, the
occurrence of any event, change or other circumstances, including
outcomes of legal proceedings, that could give rise to the right of
JetBlue or Spirit or either party to terminate the Merger
Agreement; risks related to the long-term nature of our fleet order
book; volatility in fuel prices and availability of fuel; increased
maintenance costs associated with fleet age; costs associated with
salaries, wages and benefits; risks associated with a potential
material reduction in the rate of interchange reimbursement fees;
risks associated with doing business internationally; our reliance
on high daily aircraft utilization; our dependence on the New York
metropolitan market; risks associated with extended interruptions
or disruptions in service at our focus cities; risks associated
with airport expenses; risks associated with seasonality and
weather; our reliance on a limited number of suppliers for our
aircraft, engines, and our Fly-Fi® product; risks related to new or
increased tariffs imposed on commercial aircraft and related parts
imported from outside the United States; the outcome of legal
proceedings with respect to our NEA with American Airlines and our
wind-down of the NEA; failure to obtain certain governmental
approvals necessary to consummate the Merger; the outcome of the
lawsuit filed by the Department of Justice and certain state
Attorneys General against us and Spirit related to the Merger;
risks associated with failure to consummate the Merger in a timely
manner or at all; risks associated with the pendency of the Merger
and related business disruptions; indebtedness following
consummation of the Merger and associated impacts on business
flexibility, borrowing costs and credit ratings; the possibility
that JetBlue may be unable to achieve expected synergies and
operating efficiencies within the expected timeframes or at all;
challenges associated with successful integration of Spirit's
operations; expenses related to the Merger and integration of
Spirit; the potential for loss of management personnel and other
key crewmembers as a result of the Merger; risks associated with
effective management of the combined company following the Merger;
risks associated with JetBlue being bound by all obligations and
liabilities of the combined company following consummation of the
Merger; risks associated with the integration of JetBlue and Spirit
workforces, including with respect to negotiation of labor
agreements and labor costs; the impact of the Merger on JetBlue’s
earnings per share; risks associated with cybersecurity and
privacy, including potential disruptions to our information
technology systems or information security breaches; heightened
regulatory requirements concerning data security compliance; risks
associated with reliance on, and potential failure of, automated
systems to operate our business; our inability to attract and
retain qualified crewmembers; our being subject to potential
unionization, work stoppages, slowdowns or increased labor costs;
reputational and business risk from an accident or incident
involving our aircraft; risks associated with damage to our
reputation and the JetBlue brand name; our significant amount of
fixed obligations and the ability to service such obligations; our
substantial indebtedness and impact on our ability to meet future
financing needs; financial risks associated with credit card
processors; restrictions as a result of our participation in
governmental support programs under the CARES Act, the Consolidated
Appropriations Act, and the American Rescue Plan Act; risks
associated with seeking short-term additional financing liquidity;
failure to realize the full value of intangible or long-lived
assets, causing us to record impairments; risks associated with
disease outbreaks or environmental disasters affecting travel
behavior; compliance with environmental laws and regulations, which
may cause us to incur substantial costs; the impacts of federal
budget constraints or federally imposed furloughs; impact of global
climate change and legal, regulatory or market response to such
change; increasing attention to, and evolving expectations
regarding, environmental, social and governance matters; changes in
government regulations in our industry; acts of war or terrorism;
and changes in global economic conditions or an economic downturn
leading to a continuing or accelerated decrease in demand for air
travel.
Given the risks and uncertainties surrounding forward-looking
statements, you should not place undue reliance on these
statements. You should understand that many important factors, in
addition to those discussed or incorporated by reference in this
press release, could cause our results to differ materially from
those expressed in the forward-looking statements. Further
information concerning these and other factors is contained in
JetBlue's filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission
(the “SEC”), including but not limited to our Annual Report on Form
10-K for the year ended December 31, 2022, as updated by our other
SEC filings, including our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year
ended December 31, 2023, to be filed with the SEC. In light of
these risks and uncertainties, the forward-looking events discussed
in this press release might not occur. Our forward-looking
statements speak only as of the date of this press release. Other
than as required by law, we undertake no obligation to update or
revise forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new
information, future events, or otherwise.
View source
version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240129814237/en/
JetBlue Corporate Communications +1.718.709.3089
corpcomm@jetblue.com
JetBlue Airways (NASDAQ:JBLU)
Historical Stock Chart
From Apr 2024 to May 2024
JetBlue Airways (NASDAQ:JBLU)
Historical Stock Chart
From May 2023 to May 2024