I can't see how you think Jesus regarded Jonah as "real." Where do you get that impression? And then, of course, what do you define as "real"?

Jesus gives very clear support of the OT scripture : 'For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled.' (Matt 5:18). Very much a man of his time, there's little reason to believe he took the OT stories in any sense other than literally, as all good Christians should of course instead of adopting a secular scientific view of the godless Cosmos as part of their Godly cause. In this sense I'd say Pete from Seven Stars Link has it absolutely spot on.