JetBlue hosted special book drive on Fri., Nov. 30 in support of the Hasbro Children's Hospital Read to Me program.
PROVIDENCE, R.I. – Award-winning value airline JetBlue Airways shined even brighter with the launch of nonstop service between the Sunshine State of Florida and the carrier’s 75th destination: Providence, Rhode Island. Two daily flights from T.F. Green International Airport (PVD) to Orlando International Airport (MCO) and one daily flight to Fort Lauderdale/Hollywood International Airport (FLL) begin.
Governor Lincoln Chafee, Warwick Mayor Scott Avedisian, Rhode Island Airport Corporation (RIAC) Board Chair Dr. Kathleen Hittner and Interim President and CEO Peter Frazier will join Joanna Geraghty, JetBlue’s executive vice president and chief people officer, at PVD to commemorate the airline’s start of service. The first flight from Florida will be met with much fanfare as it taxis through a water cannon salute upon arrival. New England Patriots’ cheerleaders will cheer on arriving customers and the local Bishop Hendricken High School Jazz Combo will entertain guests.
“Providence is JetBlue’s diamond destination, and our seventh airport served in New England, giving customers even more convenient options for traveling in comfort and style to the places they want to go,” said Ms. Geraghty. “With a first checked bag free, the most legroom of any carrier in coach, free live television and assigned leather seating, our unbeatable product offerings combined with our award-winning service make JetBlue the Ocean State’s carrier of choice.”
“I am proud to welcome JetBlue Airways to Rhode Island,” Governor Lincoln Chafee said. “The addition of JetBlue will have positive effects throughout the state: T.F. Green customers will have more flight options, the airport will enjoy the addition of new air service and jobs, and Rhode Island will continue to build its reputation as a great place to do business. JetBlue service makes T.F. Green Airport, in the heart of Warwick’s growing transportation hub and regional connectivity, an even more appealing option for the traveling public.”
“We are very pleased to welcome JetBlue to Warwick,” said Mayor Scott Avedisian. “JetBlue is widely recognized for value and customer service. Those qualities, together with the convenience and ease of travel they offer their customers, make them a wonderful addition to T.F. Green Airport. I know that having JetBlue in our community will also have a positive impact as we move forward with the redevelopment and revitalization of the Warwick Station Development District.”
“There is much to celebrate on this long-awaited JetBlue inaugural day,” said Dr. Kathleen Hittner, Chair of the RIAC board. “The enthusiastic response from the community has been extremely encouraging with impressive load factors on the outbound flights. This is the beginning of an exciting new chapter at T. F. Green.”
As part of the celebration and to further give back to the communities it serves, JetBlue hosted a special book drive on Friday, Nov. 30, in support of the Providence-based Hasbro Children’s Hospital’s Read to Me Program. The book drive location, which will remain a mystery until tomorrow morning, will be revealed on the airline’s Twitter feed @JetBlue. For those that show up at the event dressed like a Floridian, with three new or very gently used books for donation, JetBlue will be on hand with some great giveaways, including travel certificates and flight discounts for travel from Providence.
“We welcome JetBlue to the Rhode Island market and are thrilled they chose to support the ‘Read to Me’ program at Hasbro Children’s Hospital. Helping families develop a love for reading together is so important. We are proud to name JetBlue as a new community partner,” said Dr. Robert Klein, Pediatrician-in-Chief at Hasbro Children’s Hospital.
JetBlue also donated seats on last Thurday’s inaugural to Orlando in support of Give Kids The World Village (GKTW), a Central Florida non-profit “storybook” resort that fulfills the wishes of children with life-threatening illnesses by providing their families weeklong, cost-free Orlando dream vacations. Two wish families from Providence will join the celebration and travel to the Village. In addition, 30 employees from Rhode Island-based branded play company Hasbro, Inc. are traveling with the group to volunteer their time at the Village. They will be met by JetBlue’s Orlando-based crewmembers who will also give back to this great cause.
“Every week, more than 1,400 shifts at Give Kids The World are filled by volunteer ‘Angels’ who help fulfill our mission of creating the happiness that inspires hope for children with life-threatening illnesses,” said GKTW President Pamela Landwirth. “We are honored to welcome our long-time partner, Hasbro, and our new friends at JetBlue who will play an important role in bringing smiles to the faces of our precious guests this week.”
“We appreciate the opportunity to join JetBlue on their inaugural flight to help our wonderful philanthropic partner, Give Kids The World,” said Karen Davis, vice president of community relations for Hasbro, Inc. “It is great to see that they are just entering the Rhode Island market and are already making a difference for two local families in addition to Hasbro Children’s Hospital.”
Service between Providence and Florida will be operated on the value airline’s fleet of Airbus A320 aircraft, featuring many premium offerings, including a first checked bag free (b), assigned leather seating with legroom to spare, and more than 140 channels of complimentary live television and radio on personal seatback screens. The airline, well-known for its superior and personable customer service, also offers a free and unlimited assortment of name brand snacks and drinks for the ride.
Vicky is the co-founder of TravelDailyNews Media Network where she is the Editor-in Chief. She is also responsible for the daily operation and the financial policy. She holds a Bachelor's degree in Tourism Business Administration from the Technical University of Athens and a Master in Business Administration (MBA) from the University of Wales.
She has many years of both academic and industrial experience within the travel industry. She has written/edited numerous articles in various tourism magazines.
