Business briefs for Jan. 7, 2004

Wednesday, Jan. 7, 2004 | 11:05 a.m.

Airline adds Sacramento flights

NEW YORK -- JetBlue Airways Corp., whose shares have climbed more than threefold since an initial public offering in April 2002, will add a daily, nonstop round trip between John F. Kennedy International Airport and Sacramento on March 3.

Sacramento is the fifth California city served by JetBlue, joining Long Beach, Oakland, San Diego and Ontario. The service between Long Beach and Boston's Logan airport will begin on Jan. 16, said JetBlue spokesman Gareth Edmondson-Jones.

"We start with red-eye flights and then add more daily flights," Edmondson-Jones said. "We focused on expanding on the West Coast and as demand has grown the frequency of our flights has grown."

Operation grows

KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- Sprint Corp. added 1 million wireless subscribers during the fourth quarter, Chairman and Chief Executive Gary Forsee said Tuesday.

Forsee credited Sprint's new offerings, such as its walkie-talkie service, and new phones, including some that snap pictures, for the increase. Sprint plans to release its fourth quarter earnings results Feb. 3.

The Overland Park, Kan.-based company said customer "churn," or turnover, in its wireless division for the quarter is expected to be 2.7 percent -- the same as in the third quarter. Some analysts had expressed concern that Sprint and other wireless providers might experience increased turnover now that customers are allowed to take their wireless numbers with them when changing carriers.