Jetblue leaving ATL

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 By RUSSELL GRANTHAM
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution


Just six months after arriving, JetBlue Airways is leaving Atlanta.

 The New York discount carrier will end its single daily flights to Long
 Beach and Oakland, Calif., on Dec. 4.

 JetBlue executives, who had already cut back Long Beach flights, cited the
 crossfire of the dogfight between Delta and AirTran in both markets.

 JetBlue said it will instead use the planes to launch service between
 Boston and Long Beach, a Los Angeles suburb, and to add flights from New
 York to Oakland.

 In early September, JetBlue cut back from three daily flights to only one
 late-night "redeye" flight between Atlanta and Long Beach, a Los Angeles
 suburb. The carrier initiated a single redeye flight from Atlanta to
 Oakland at the same time.

 JetBlue CEO David Neeleman said it made more sense to use the aircraft
 elsewhere than to stay in a fight with Delta Air Lines and AirTran Airways.
 The latter added service to Los Angeles and San Francisco shortly after
 JetBlue.

 Although it never had a large presence, JetBlue's arrival was noteworthy
 because it brought cut-rate air service between Atlanta and the West Coast.
 Delta, which had long enjoyed a near monopoly on nonstop West Coast
 service, responded by cutting fares, adding flights and offering frequent
 flier bonuses.

 AirTran's addition of flights assures competition will continue.

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