Every year, millions of visitors come to Utah for our natural beauty, national parks, outdoor adventures, and diverse attractions. While we know visitors will have an incredible experience once they arrive, we also want the journey to Utah to be an easy one. A key part of the trip for many is the flight they take to get here, and the pending merger between JetBlue and Spirit will go a long way towards making that part fun and painless. By joining forces, JetBlue and Spirit will ensure that visitors have an exceptional journey from start to finish, starting with their flights to our great state.
As an elected official, a pilot, and a traveler I know the impact a comfortable and stress-free flight can have on the overall travel experience. We believe that the journey should be as enjoyable as the destination. This is why we want visitors to our great state to arrive excited, and ready to explore, and for our residents to return home feeling relaxed and refreshed.
JetBlue goes beyond other airlines to ensure a prime flight experience. Customers are welcomed with the industry’s greatest number of complimentary amenities. JetBlue has the most legroom in coach, allowing you to stretch out and relax. They provide TVs in every seat back, offering dozens of channels of live TV and movies, and unlimited snacks, all free of charge. Even the Wi-Fi on JetBlue is free, giving passengers the ability to stay in touch with loved ones or do work in flight.
The JetBlue/Spirit merger will result in an expanded, low-fare route network, flying more people to Utah than ever before and strengthening our state’s economy. Bringing more affordable flights to Utah is important – Salt Lake City is one of the most expensive airports to depart in the US – and so is the quality of the flights themselves. JetBlue is well-known as a disrupter in the industry, offering low fares without sacrificing great customer service. It’s time to challenge the “Big Four” airlines – Delta, American, United and Southwest – and their grip on 80% of domestic flights. Allowing a low-cost JetBlue to grow and build capacity helps every consumer and every Utahn.
As we continue to promote Utah as a must-visit travel destination, we understand the importance of offering cost-conscious travelers greater flexibility and affordability when it comes to flight options. This means that travelers can enjoy the same high-quality customer experience while also having more choices that cater to their specific needs and preferences. Utahns deserve a more comfortable, affordable, and convenient journey; this merger will deliver on that promise. The JetBlue/Spirit merger will continue and expand JetBlue’s high-quality air travel at low prices.
Troy Walker is the mayor of Draper
