NEW YORK and FORT WORTH, Texas: JetBlue Airways Corp. (NASDAQ: JBLU) and American Airlines Group Inc. (NASDAQ: AAL) today announced a strategic partnership that will create seamless connectivity for travelers in the Northeast and more options for customers. of all the world. Complementary national and international networks. In addition, the relationship will accelerate each airline’s recovery as the travel industry adjusts to new trends as a result of the pandemic.
Travelers will now have seamless access to the national and international networks of both airlines.
NEW YORK and FORT WORTH, Texas: JetBlue Airways Corp. (NASDAQ: JBLU) and American Airlines Group Inc. (NASDAQ: AAL) today announced a strategic partnership that will create seamless connectivity for travelers in the Northeast and more options for customers. of all the world. Complementary national and international networks. In addition, the relationship will accelerate each airline’s recovery as the travel industry adjusts to new trends as a result of the pandemic.
The partnership includes an alliance agreement proposing code-share and loyalty benefits that will enhance each operator’s offerings in New York and Boston, providing strategic growth and momentum for customers and team members of both airlines. Customers will experience a number of benefits of the new partnership, including:
- New and expanded routes: The partnership allows new strategic growth opportunities for both airlines. As a result, American will launch an international service from New York (JFK) to Tel Aviv (TLV) and Athens (ATH), and JFK to Rio de Janeiro (GIG) will return as a daily seasonal route in the winter of 2021, in addition to continuing serving popular long distance destinations such as London (LHR) and Madrid (MAD). JetBlue will also accelerate its growth in key cities, bringing its award-winning service to more customers. JetBlue will grow in the great city of New York, adding flights in LaGuardia (LGA) and Newark (EWR), while increasing its presence in JFK for seamless connections to American’s expanded international network. JetBlue plans to improve service to strategic markets on the East Coast, West Coast, and Southeast, building on JetBlue’s recently announced service between EWR and nine markets, including Mint® service to Los Angeles (LAX) and San Francisco (SFO ).
- More loyalty options and benefits: Through their integrated networks, JetBlue and American will operate reciprocal codeshare flights, offering customers new options with better schedules, competitive rates, and nonstop access to more national and international destinations. JetBlue will gain connectivity to more U.S. destinations, a broad global network and an enhanced frequent flyer proposition, while American will complement JetBlue’s enhanced and expanded service with new international routes. JetBlue and American loyalty members will also enjoy new benefits as operators explore additional premium experiences for customers.
- Transparent experience: Customers will enjoy a seamless experience on both airlines, including the ability to book a single itinerary on any of the websites, convenient connections and an enhanced experience on the ground, resulting in a compelling proposition for both leisure and corporate customers . Additionally, customers looking for more convenience in transcontinental service will have access to both JetBlue’s Mint service and American’s three-class Transcon service.
“Pairing JetBlue’s home network with American’s international route map creates a new competitive option in the Northeast, where customers crave an alternative to dominant network operators,” said Joanna Geraghty, President and Chief Operating Officer of JetBlue. “This partnership with American is the next step in our plan to accelerate our coronavirus recovery, make our crews and aircraft fly again, and fuel JetBlue’s growth in the future.”
“This is an incredible opportunity for our two airlines,” said American Airlines President Robert Isom. “American has a strong history in the Northeast, and we are proud to partner with JetBlue as the last chapter in that long history. Together, we can offer customers an industry-leading product in New York and Boston with more flights and more seats to more cities. “
New routes from the northeast
The American-JetBlue partnership enables sustainable international growth for customers in Northeast JFK, which will continue to complement Philadelphia’s strong international service (PHL), for even more options.
Following the implementation of the alliance agreement, American intends to launch the service between JFK and TLV and will introduce a new seasonal service between JFK and ATH next summer, to meet strong local demand. The new nonstop service to TLV and ATH from JFK will be the first international long-haul flights that American will launch from New York in more than four years. American will also operate seasonal daily service to GIG beginning in the winter of 2021 during the peak period of summer travel in Rio de Janeiro. And, once the coronavirus pandemic (COVID-19) has ended, the new partnership is sure to make it easier for Americans to enter new long-distance markets in Europe, Africa, India, and South America.
Like New York’s Hometown Airline®, JetBlue plans to increase flights from New York’s three major airports, bringing its award-winning experience to more customers. Your growth at JFK will aim to provide even more connection opportunities to American’s growing international network of destinations. In both New York and Boston, JetBlue plans to improve service to strategic markets, including the East Coast, West Coast, and Southeast markets. This will build on JetBlue’s recently announced growth between EWR and nine markets, including Mint service to LAX and SFO.
More options and loyalty benefits: code-sharing creates more options for customers
JetBlue and American will begin a new code-share relationship, giving customers seamless access to more destinations, including international service. The code share will introduce JetBlue customers to more than 60 new routes operated by American and introduce American customers to more than 130 new routes operated by JetBlue. The codeshare allows customers to book a single itinerary that combines flights from both airlines, resulting in a one-stop check-in experience and seamless flight connections from origin to destination.
“JetBlue customers will have more routes and destinations to choose from through American Airlines’ extensive global network,” said Scott Laurence, head of revenue and planning for JetBlue. Together we will offer customers better options than any of us could alone. This partnership enables JetBlue to deliver our low fares and excellent service to even more customers by expanding our presence in our hometown, increasing relevance in Boston, and supporting our successful Mint franchise. “
“Leisure travel is important to our customers, and JetBlue’s network combined with its award-winning service is the perfect choice,” said Vasu Raja, Director of Revenue for American Airlines. “Customers of both airlines value access to more destinations, whether it’s a JetBlue customer who wants more direct access to South America from New York, or a US customer who wants more robust service to Florida. Together, we can offer our customers the best of both worlds. “
Exceptional Experience: Industry Leading Products and Existing Service Improvements
JetBlue and American will offer customers more options on Transcon service from New York to the West Coast. American’s popular three-class service on the Airbus A321T will join JetBlue with its premium Mint experience and thoughtful center seats.
The premium experience will also be extended to the fleet. American intends to operate more regional dual-class aircraft with a first class starting next year, providing the premium experience preferred by customers in the Northeast.
JetBlue does not join oneworld® or the Joint AA / IAG Atlantic Trade Agreement and will continue plans to independently launch and operate transatlantic flights to London in 2021.
The implementation of the alliance agreement and other arrangements described here are subject to government review.
Precautionary statement on forward-looking statements
Some of the statements contained in this release should be considered forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These Observational statements can be identified with words such as “may”, “will”, “wait”, “pretend”, “anticipate”, “believe”, “estimate”, “plan”, “project”, “could” “should “,” would “,” continue “,” search “,” target “,” orientation “,” perspective “,” if current trends continue “,” optimistic “,” forecast “and other similar words. Such statements include, but are not limited to, statements about American’s plans, objectives, expectations, intentions, estimates and strategies for the future, and other statements that are not historical facts. These forward-looking statements are based on the current goals, beliefs, and expectations of Americans, and are subject to significant risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results and the financial position and timing of certain events to differ materially from information in the future. statements. These risks and uncertainties include, among others, those established from time to time in our filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. There may be other factors that we are not currently aware of that may affect the issues discussed in the forward-looking statements and may also cause actual results to differ materially from those discussed. In particular, the consequences of the coronavirus outbreak on economic conditions and the travel industry in general, and our financial position and operating results in particular, have been material, are changing rapidly and cannot be predicted. We assume no obligation to publicly update or supplement any forward-looking statement to reflect actual results, changes in assumptions, or changes in other factors that affect these forward-looking statements other than those required by law. Any forward-looking statement refers only to the date hereof or the dates indicated in the statement.
About JetBlue Airways
JetBlue is New York’s Hometown Airline®, and a leading airline in Boston, Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood, Los Angeles, Orlando, and San Juan. JetBlue transports clients in the United States, the Caribbean and Latin America. For more information, visit jetblue.com.
About the American Airlines group
American’s purpose is to care for people on life’s journey. Shares of American Airlines Group Inc. are listed on Nasdaq under the ticker symbol AAL and the company’s shares are listed in the S&P 500. Find out more about what’s happening at American by visiting news.aa.com and connecting with American on Twitter @AmericanAir and on Facebook.com/AmericanAirlines.
