JetBlue (US) stylized as jetBlue commenced operations on February 11th, 2000 as a 'low cost carrier' (LCC), modeled after Southwest Airlines, but seeking to distinguish itself by offering amenities such as live TV, Sirius XM satellite radio, assigned seating, and free snacks. It was assumed the carrier would acquire Boeing 737s, in common with typical LCC's worldwide at that time. The selection instead of Airbus's A320 was a surprise, and heralded a long run of subsequent campaign successes by Airbus in this category (EasyJet, AirAsia, Air Berlin and others).
All JetBlue's aircraft were delivered factory new, and in a further surprise and break from the typical LCC strategy of operating only one aircraft type, the airline later added Embraer E-190s, and more recently the larger Airbus A321.
JetBlue's service philosophy has also evolved to the extent the carrier is essentially now a hybrid, as it offers a first class cabin (named Mint) on the highly competitive New York City - Los Angeles / San Francisco transcontinental routes. So successful has this product been, additional markets have started to receive this service.
There was a time a few decades ago in the early jet age when it was common for many airlines worldwide to individually name each aircraft in their fleet. Fleets were much smaller then of course, whereas major carrier fleets now number up to several hundred aircraft, and the naming practice has consequently reduced, as a matter of practicality.
In the United States most airlines use a 'fleet number' system to provide a logical way to track their fleets from a maintenance and fleet management perspective. Sometimes the fleet numbers might be an abbreviation of the aircraft's registration, but oftentimes with today's large fleets have no obvious reference to the aircraft's registration. Fleet numbers are also used in certain non-US countries, such as COPA in Panama, most Canadian airlines, KLM and Israel's El Al. Aircraft names remain popular with many European airlines such as Iberia, SAS, TAP, THY, Vueling, KLM, Swiss, Alitalia and others, while the practice has long been discarded by Air France and British Airways.
A US example of the fleet number practice would be Boeing 757-200 MSN 28162 which was delivered new to TWA as N702TW and carried fleet number 7502. The aircraft passed to American Airlines after their 12/01 merger, retained the same registration of N702TW but with fleet number 5TB. The aircraft now flies for Delta Air Lines, still as N702TW, with fleet number 6801. Fleet numbers can typically be observed on the nose wheel door and at the top of the fin / tail. Registrations are typically located at the bottom of the tail, at the rear of the fuselage.
Aircraft names, if used, are typically located below the cockpit windows or near the front of the fuselage. In JetBlue's case, it unusually has named every single aircraft in it's extensive fleet (currently 232 aircraft) in imaginative ways that reflect the word 'blue' as part of the name.
The attached spreadsheet details their entire current (and past) fleet with all names used.
jetBlue Fleet
