JetBlue expanding charter flying as it adds to jet fleet

JetBlue Airways Corp., slowing the addition of new routes to protect profits, is expanding charter flying as it takes deliveries of more jets.

The New York-based discount carrier applied last week for permission to fly to Canada, with initial plans to start business charters and an eventual goal of scheduled service there, spokesman Bryan Baldwin said Friday.

"We're looking at charter flights as an additional revenue stream," Baldwin said. "We're doing more of it in the United States, too."

Adding charter flights would let JetBlue put new planes to use while it pares plans to start routes and cancels others that aren't profitable after annual losses in 2005 and 2006. JetBlue is adding 15 planes in 2007, for a total of 134.