JetBlue took to the skies in 2000 with 2 destinations - Buffalo and Ft. Lauderdale. The corporate structure was formed about 2 years prior to that. Investors lined up, they bought new planes and captured a market that didn't previously exist - domestic flights out of JFK to serve the HUGE New York market. Who'da thought?!
In contrast....BLTA formed in 1989 and never flew a single mile. You tell me what the barrier was when other airlines did the same thing during the same period of time.
I have no idea how after 29 years, you can't get a plane off the ground. I almost want to start an airline to prove it's probably not that difficult. Who's with me? haha