(L. to r.); Congressmember Carolyn Maloney, U.S. Senator Charles Schumer and state Senator Michael Gianaris celebrate the establishing of JetBlue’s new main offices at Queens Plaza in Long Island City. Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg officially opened the new 200,000-square-foot headquarters of JetBlue Airways in the historic Brewster Building in Long Island City. The new office consolidates JetBlue’s regional corporate facilities, expands its footprint in New York City and demonstrates the successful economic revitalization of Long Island City. JetBlue’s move to the neighborhood was announced in 2010 after the city won a multi-year competitive review process among cities nationwide.
“JetBlue has played a huge role in making New York City the nation’s number one travel destination,” said Bloomberg “The many reasons why people come to New York as tourists on JetBlue planes also are good reasons why JetBlue is expanding its corporate headquarters here. We couldn’t be prouder that JetBlue has cast a major vote of confidence in Long Island City as a great place to do business.”
JetBlue’s new headquarters combine its former Forest Hills office where more than 900 crewmembers and business partners worked, with its Darien, Conn. office where approximately 70 crewmembers worked. JetBlue’s crewmembers from Darien, who provide transactional financial support for the airline, now work alongside colleagues in Long Island City, bringing 70 jobs to the Empire State. The Brewster Building is owned by Brause Realty, a New York City-based real estate company. JetBlue is subleasing the space from MetLife, who will continue to maintain a presence at the location. The Brewster Building has a proud aviation history. It was built in 1911 and is where the Brewster Aeronautical Company manufactured the Brewster F2A, also known as The Brewster Buffalo, the first monoplane fighter airplane used by the U.S. Navy in World War II.
“Since our start up in New York in 1998 and our first flight from JFK in 2000, JetBlue’s home, heart and soul have always remained in New York,” said JetBlue CEO Dave Barger. “Now in our second decade, we are growing jobs with this new office, serving seven Empire State destinations with more daily seats between New York City and Upstate than any other airline, and growing the regional economy with competitive fares. JetBlue is proud to stay here in New York, grow here in New York and continue being New York’s hometown airline.”
