The case “JetBlue Airways IPO Valuation” outlines JetBlue’s innovative strategy and the associated strong financial performance over the initial two years, in order to determine the price of initial public offering of its stock on April 2002. To the whole industry of Airlines, the terrorist attacks of September 2001 caused a challenge, especially to large numbers of low-fare U.S. airlines. However, JetBlue remained profitable and grew aggressively. From 2002, the low-fare business model gained momentum in the U.S. airline industry. The dominant player among low-fare airlines, Southwest Airlines, has been going so successfully with its stable growth rate of revenue (Exhibit 8) and increasing operating margin forecasts (Exhibit 5). As a relatively new company, JetBlue had made significant progress in establishing a strong brand by seeking to be identified as a safe, reliable, low-fare airline. In addition, a solid Neeleman’s management team, with David Barger and John Owen joining, was formed to enhance the success of going public. Therefore, to support JetBlue’s growth trajectory, going public and raising financing for the company is appropriate at this moment. Going public has both advantages and disadvantages.
Advantages
The main purpose of going public is to increase capital for the issuer. A public offering would place a value on the company's stock and insiders who retain stock may be able to sell their shares or use them as collateral. Going public also creates a type of currency in the form of its stock that the business can use to make acquisitions. In addition, the company will likely have access to capital markets for future financing needs.

In this case of JetBlue Airways, the company can offset portfolio losses by its venture-capital investors by going public, meanwhile, create exit opportunity for venture capitalists and