Monday, April 06, 2009

Will jetBlue Relocate From Queens?

Will jetBlue move out of its Queens headquarters? That's the multimillion dollar question as the airline's lease is set to expire in 2012. The company wants to consolidate offices spread throughout the region and the company says that it will continue to maintain a strong presence in New York City as its main hub is at JFK airport, but that doesn't mean it can't leave for a cheaper location somewhere else in the region; whether it is in Connecticut, New Jersey, or somewhere else in New York City for a reduced rent.

One place that might make sense is Lower Manhattan with the influx of new office space and the Freedom Tower under construction. There is also space at Battery Park City and the Goldman Sachs headquarters that will be available due to the consolidation of the banking industry. That means that there is the possibility of large amounts of rental space coming on the market at reduced prices.

Tampa, Florida may try to make a play to land jetBlue since Tampa is a major destination for jetBlue flights (and my experience with jetBlue in Tampa was wonderful). Still, I think the company will stick with the NYC metro area.

No comments: