After several weeks or rumours that a new airline partnership has been gathering momentum, US carriers United Airlines and JetBlue Airways have revealed plans for a “unique consumer collaboration” due to kick off later this year.
The new commercial cooperation, which is subject to regulatory reviews, is not exactly a surprise. Both carriers were open about their intentions: United’s to re-establish a foothold at New York’s John F Kennedy International airport, and JetBlue’s to find a major airline partner following the court-ordered dissolution of their Northeast Alliance with American Airlines.
Both airlines disclosed the “Blue Sky” agreement on 29 May, describing a partnership that will see the carriers allow their passengers to earn and redeem loyalty programme points on each other’s flights.
They do not specify when the collaboration will be fully up and running, though components of the partnership will begin after the summer air travel season concludes.
JetBlue will also provide United with access to slots at John F Kennedy International for up to seven daily round-trip flights beginning as early as 2027. The carriers will also “exchange eight timings” at Newark Liberty International airport in New Jersey as part of a “net neutral exchange”.
The airlines maintain that they will continue to “manage and price their networks independently, including the launch of new routes, frequencies and promotions”.
United chief executive Scott Kirby says his employees “are really excited about United’s return to JFK for the long-term”, while JetBlue chief Joanna Geraghty says that the deal brings together “two customer-focused airlines”.
“United’s global reach perfectly complements JetBlue’s East Coast leisure network, and significantly expands the options and benefits for TrueBlue members,” she says.
JetBlue has struggled financially since a pair of federal court decisions hobbled big-picture strategic plans: first, the dissolution of the NEA in May 2023 and then the blockage of its proposed $3.8 billion acquisition of low-cost carrier Spirit Airlines in January 2024.
Amid a financial turnaround plan branded JetForward, the New York-based company reports narrowing its first-quarter losses significantly. It lost $208 million during the first quarter, compared with a $716 million loss during the equivalent period of 2024.
JetBlue’s first-quarter revenue decreased year on year 3%, to $2.14 billion.
United, meanwhile, has only solidified in the post-pandemic environment its status as one of the Big Two carriers in the USA alongside Delta Air Lines.
