period if an extension is necessary, the reason for the extension and the date by which it is expected that a decision will be made. In the event the Plan Administrator denies a claim for benefits, in whole or in part, the Plan Administrator shall notify the Claimant in writing of the denial of the claim and notify the Claimant of his right to a review of the Plan Administrator’s decision by the Committee. Such notice by the Plan Administrator shall also set forth, in a manner calculated to be understood by the Claimant, the specific reason for such denial, the specific provisions of the Plan on which the denial is based, and a description of any additional material or information necessary to perfect the claim with an explanation of the Plan’s appeals procedure as set forth in this Section 14.
which shall make specific reference to the pertinent provisions of the Plan on which the Committee’s decision is based.
(h)Statute of Limitations. A Claimant wishing to seek judicial review of an adverse benefit determination under the Plan, whether in whole or in part, must file any suit or legal action, including, without limitation, a civil action under Section 502(a) of ERISA, within three (3) years of the date the final decision on the adverse benefit determination on review is issued or should have been issued under Section 14(f) or lose any rights to bring such an action. If any such judicial proceeding is undertaken, the evidence presented shall be strictly limited to the evidence timely presented to the Committee. Notwithstanding anything in the Plan to the contrary, a Claimant must exhaust all administrative remedies available to such Claimant under the Plan before such Claimant may seek judicial review pursuant to Section 502(a) of ERISA.
Section 15. Correspondence with Committee. All notices or other communications to the Committee shall be in writing and shall be given by hand delivery, or by registered or certified mail addressed as follows:
JetBlue Airways Corporation
118-29 Queens Boulevard
Forest Hills, New York 11375
Attention: General Counsel
Section 16. Agent for Service of Process. The Company’s General Counsel shall be the designated agent of the Plan for service of process.
Section 17. Miscellaneous.
(a)ERISA Plan. It is the intent of the Company that the Plan constitute an “employee welfare benefit plan” within the meaning of Section 3(1) of ERISA, and comply with the applicable requirements of ERISA.
(b)Funding. The Plan shall not be funded through any trust, insurance contract or other funding vehicle. All payments under the Plan shall be made from the general assets of the Company. No Eligible Employee who becomes eligible to receive Severance under the Plan shall have a claim against any specific assets of the Company, and such Eligible Employee shall only be a general unsecured creditor of the Company.
(c)No Implied Employment Contract. The Plan shall not be deemed to give any person (whether or not an Eligible Employee) any right to be retained in the employ of the Company, nor any right to interfere with the right of the Company to discharge any employee (whether or not an Eligible Employee) at any time and for any reason, which right is hereby reserved.
(d)Benefits Not Assignable. Except as otherwise provided herein or by law, no right or interest of any Eligible Employee under the Plan shall be assignable or transferable, in whole or in part, either directly or by operation of law or otherwise, including without limitation by execution, levy, garnishment, attachment, pledge or in any manner; no attempted assignment or transfer thereof shall be effective; and no right or interest of any Eligible
10
Employee under the Plan shall be liable for, or subject to, any obligation or liability of such Eligible Employee. When a payment is due under the Plan to an Eligible Employee who is unable to care for his affairs, payment may be made directly to his legal guardian or personal representative.
(e)Withholding. The Company shall withhold any applicable federal, state or local income and employment taxes from any payments made under the Plan.
(f)Cooperation. An Eligible Employee shall, for a period of two (2) years after termination of his or her employment, upon request from the Company, cooperate with the Company or any of its subsidiaries in the defense of any claims or actions that may be made by or against the Company or any of its subsidiaries that affect the Eligible Employee’s prior areas of responsibility, except if the Eligible Employee’s reasonable interests are adverse to the Company or any of its subsidiaries in such claim or action. The Company agrees to promptly reimburse the Eligible Employee for all of his or her reasonable travel and other direct expenses incurred, or to be reasonably incurred, to comply with the Eligible Employee’s obligations under this Section 17(f).
(g)Prior Agreements and Understandings. As of the Effective Date, the Plan shall not supersede and replace any written or oral plan, agreement and understanding concerning an Eligible Employee’s right to receive severance or similar payments from the Company.
(h)Reductions to Severance. To the extent permitted by law, unless the Committee determines otherwise in its sole discretion, an Eligible Employee’s Severance will be reduced by the amount of any salary or wage continuation, severance, termination or similar payments, or any payments in lieu of required notice of termination, that the Company becomes required to make to such Eligible Employee under any applicable federal, state or local law (including, without limitation, the Federal Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification Act) or under any agreement, written or oral, with such Eligible Employee.
(i)Amendment and Termination. Prior to a Change in Control, the Company may amend or terminate the Plan at any time and for any reason;provided, that such amendment or termination shall be effective only if the amendment or termination occurs prior to a Potential Change in Control Date. Following the Change in Control Date or Potential Change in Control Date, the Plan shall not be terminated and shall not be amended to reduce any benefit or to make any condition more restrictive as it applies to any Eligible Employee for a period ending on the later to occur of: (i) the last day of the month in which the second anniversary of the Change in Control Date occurs, and (ii) the date that all benefits due to each Eligible Employee under the Plan have been paid. Unless previously terminated pursuant to this Section 17(i), within the 90-day period immediately prior to the third anniversary of the Effective Date, the Board shall reconsider the terms of this Plan in light of then-current market practices.
(j)Section 409A. The Plan is intended to satisfy the requirements of Section 409A with respect to amounts subject thereto, and shall be interpreted and administered consistent with such intent. If, in the good faith judgment of the Committee, any provision of the Plan could cause any person to be subject to adverse or unintended tax consequences under
11
Section 409A, such provision shall be modified by the Committee in its sole discretion to maintain, to the maximum extent practicable, the original intent of the applicable provision without violating the requirements of Section 409A (“Section 409A Compliance”), and, notwithstanding any provision herein to the contrary, the Committee shall have broad authority to amend or to modify the Plan, without advance notice to or consent by any person, to the extent necessary or desirable to ensure Section 409A Compliance. Any determination by the Committee under this Section 17(j) shall be final, conclusive and binding on all persons.
12
ADMINISTRATION AND ERISA INFORMATION
Administrative Facts
The following are administrative facts regarding the Plan and are provided to you in accordance with the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended (“ERISA”).
Name of Plan: | | JetBlue Airways Corporation Executive Change in Control Severance Plan |
Name and Address of Plan Sponsor: | | JetBlue Airways Corporation 118-29 Queens Boulevard Forest Hills, New York 11375 |
Employer Identification Number: | | 87-0617894 |
Plan Number: | | 101 |
Type of Plan: | | Welfare Benefit Plan |
Type of Plan Administration: | | Self-Administered |
Name and Address of Plan Administrator: | | The Plan Administrator is the Severance Plan Committee. JetBlue Airways Corporation 118-29 Queens Boulevard Forest Hills, New York 11375 Attn: Severance Plan Committee |
Claims Reviewer and business address: | | JetBlue Airways Corporation 118-29 Queens Boulevard Forest Hills, New York 11375 Attn: Claims Reviewer |
Agent for Service of Legal Process: | | JetBlue Airways Corporation - General Counsel |
Effective Date: | | June 28, 2007 |
13
Notice of Rights Under ERISA
As a participant in the Plan, you are entitled to certain rights and protections under ERISA. ERISA provides that all Plan participants shall be entitled to:
Receive Information About Your Plan and Benefits
| • | Examine, without charge, at the office of the Plan Administrator, and at other specified locations, such as worksites, all documents governing the Plan, including a copy of the latest annual report (Form 5500 Series) filed by the Plan with the U.S. Department of Labor and available at the Public Disclosure Room of the Employee Benefits Security Administration. |
| • | Obtain, upon written request to the Plan Administrator, copies of documents governing the operation of the Plan, including copies of the latest annual report (Form 5500 Series) filed, if applicable, and an updated summary plan description. The Plan Administrator may assess a reasonable charge for copies of these documents. |
Prudent Actions by Plan Fiduciaries
In addition to creating rights for Plan participants, ERISA imposes duties upon the people who are responsible for the operation of the Plan. The people who operate your Plan, called “fiduciaries” of the Plan, have a duty to do so prudently and in the interest of you and other Plan participants. No one, including the Company or any other person, may fire you or otherwise discriminate against you in any way to prevent you from obtaining severance benefits to which you are entitled under the Plan, or from exercising your rights under ERISA.
Enforce Your Rights
If your claim for a severance benefit is denied or ignored, in whole or in part, you have a right to know why this was done, to obtain copies of documents relating to the decision without charge, and to appeal any denial, all within certain time schedules.
Under ERISA, there are steps that you can take to enforce the above rights. For instance, if you request a copy of the Plan documents or the latest annual report (Form 5500 Series) from the Plan and do not receive them within 30 days, you may file suit in a Federal court. In such a case, a court may require the Plan Administrator to provide the requested materials and pay you up to $110 a day until you receive them, unless the materials were not sent because of reasons beyond the control of the Plan Administrator. If you have a claim for benefits that is denied or ignored, in whole or in part, you may file suit in a state or Federal court.
If it should happen that Plan fiduciaries misuse the Plan’s money or if you are discriminated against for asserting your rights, you may seek assistance from the U.S. Department of Labor, or you may file suit in a Federal court. The court will decide which party will be responsible for paying court costs and legal fees. If you are successful, the court may order the person you have sued to pay these costs and fees. If you lose, the court may order you to pay these costs and fees, for example, if it finds your claim is frivolous.
14
Assistance With Your Questions
If you have any questions about your Plan, you should contact the Plan Administrator. If you have any questions about this statement or about your rights under ERISA, or if you need assistance in obtaining documents from the Plan Administrator, you should contact the nearest office of the Employee Benefits Security Administration, U.S. Department of Labor, listed in your telephone directory or the Division of Technical Assistance and Inquiries, Employee Benefits Security Administration, U.S. Department of Labor, 200 Constitution Avenue N.W., Washington, D.C. 20210. Additional information may also be obtained from its Web Site at http://www.dol.gov/ebsa. You may also obtain certain publications about your rights and responsibilities under ERISA by calling the publications hotline of the Employee Benefits Security Administration.
15