Four months ago, JetBlue Airways (NASDAQ: JBLU) got into a bidding war with Alaska Air over which airline would gobble up smaller rival Virgin America (NASDAQ: VA). JetBlue was particularly interested in Virgin America as it offered a chance to quickly bulk up on the West Coast while combining two beloved brands.
Ultimately, JetBlue lost the bidding war. But it’s not giving up on the West Coast. Last week, the company showed once again that it is determined to build a bigger presence in the western half of the U.S. over time.