RALEIGH, N.C.-
Low-fare airline JetBlue began four daily roundtrip flights Thursday from Raleigh-Durham International Airport to New York.
JetBlue, the nation's ninth-largest airline, said it had sold out the inaugural flight to Kennedy Airport, giving company officials high hopes for its future at RDU, which is near Interstate 40 between Raleigh and Durham.
JetBlue says bookings at RDU so far are comparable to Charlotte, where flights have been at least 95 percent full since service started last week at Charlotte-Douglas International Airport, officials said.
That could persuade JetBlue to add flights to other locations, such as Logan International Airport in Boston, said Todd Burke, a spokesman for New York-based JetBlue.
Flights to Orlando, Fla. are also likely, said RDU director John Brantley.
But there are hurdles facing the 6-year-old airline.
Low fares and TVs for every seat have generated a strong customer base. But rising fuel costs resulted in JetBlue's first unprofitable quarters in late 2005 and early 2006, with losses totaling $74.4 million for both quarters.
With larger competitors matching its fares, JetBlue predicts an overall loss for 2006. The company has already raised fares by $5 this year.
