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 choice for customers across their complementary domestic
and international networks. In addition, the relationship will
accelerate each airline’s recovery as the travel industry adapts to
new trends as a result of the pandemic.
The partnership includes an alliance agreement that proposes
codeshare and loyalty benefits that will enhance each carrier’s
offerings in New York and Boston, providing strategic growth and
driving value for customers and team members of both airlines.
Customers will experience a number of benefits from the new
partnership, including:
- New and expanded routes: The partnership
enables new strategic growth opportunities for both airlines. As a
result, American will launch international service from New York
(JFK) to Tel Aviv (TLV) and to Athens (ATH), and JFK to Rio De
Janeiro (GIG) will return as a daily seasonal route in winter 2021,
in addition to continuing to serve popular long-haul destinations
like 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 greater New York City, adding
flights at LaGuardia (LGA) and Newark (EWR), while also increasing
its presence at JFK for seamless connections to American’s expanded
international network. JetBlue plans to enhance service to
strategic markets on the East Coast, West Coast, and in the
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 choice and loyalty benefits: Through
their integrated networks, JetBlue and American will operate
reciprocal codeshare flights, giving customers new options with
improved schedules, competitive fares and nonstop access to more
domestic and international destinations. JetBlue will gain
connectivity to more U.S. destinations, a broad global network and
an improved frequent flyer proposition, while American will
complement JetBlue’s improved and expanded service with new
international routes. JetBlue and American loyalty members will
also enjoy new benefits while the carriers are exploring additional
premium experiences for customers.
- Seamless experience: Customers will enjoy a
seamless experience across both airlines, including the ability to
book a single itinerary on either website, convenient connections
and an improved on-the-ground experience — resulting in a
compelling proposition for both leisure and corporate customers.
Additionally, customers seeking more comfort in transcontinental
service will have access to both JetBlue’s Mint and American’s
three-class Transcon service.
“Pairing JetBlue’s domestic network with American’s
international route map creates a new competitive choice in the
Northeast, where customers are longing for an alternative to the
dominant network carriers,” said Joanna Geraghty, President and
Chief Operating Officer, JetBlue. “This partnership with American
is the next step in our plan to accelerate our coronavirus
recovery, get our crewmembers and our aircraft flying again, and
fuel JetBlue’s growth into the future.”
“This is an incredible opportunity for both of our airlines,”
said American Airlines President Robert Isom. “American has a
strong history in the Northeast, and we’re proud to partner with
JetBlue as the latest 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 partnership
between American and JetBlue enables sustainable international
growth for customers in the Northeast from JFK, which will continue
to complement the robust international service from Philadelphia
(PHL), for even more options. Upon the implementation of the
alliance agreement, American intends to launch service between JFK
and TLV and will introduce new seasonal service between JFK and ATH
next summer, to meet the strong local demand. The new nonstop
service to TLV and ATH from JFK will be the first long-haul
international flights that American has launched from New York in
more than four years. American will also operate daily seasonal
service to GIG beginning in winter 2021 during the peak summer
travel period in Rio de Janeiro. And, once the coronavirus pandemic
has ended, the new partnership is certain to facilitate American
adding new long-haul markets in Europe, Africa, India and South
America
As New York’s Hometown Airline®, JetBlue plans to increase
flying out of New York’s three major airports, bringing its
award-winning experience to more customers. Its growth at JFK will
be aimed at offering even more connection opportunities to
American’s growing international network of destinations. From both
New York and Boston, JetBlue plans to enhance service to strategic
markets, including those on the East Coast, West Coast, and in the
Southeast. This will further build on JetBlue’s recently announced
growth between EWR and nine markets, including Mint service to LAX
and SFO.
More choice and loyalty benefits: Codeshare creates more
options for customersJetBlue and American will begin a new
codeshare relationship, giving customers seamless access to more
destinations, including international service. The codeshare will
introduce JetBlue customers to more than 60 new routes operated by
American and will introduce American’s customers to more than 130
new routes operated by JetBlue. Codesharing allows customers to
book a single itinerary combining flights from both airlines, which
will result 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, JetBlue.
“Together we will offer customers better options than either of us
could alone. This partnership enables JetBlue to bring our low
fares and great service to even more customers by expanding our
presence in our hometown, growing relevance in Boston, and
supporting our successful Mint franchise.”
“Leisure travel is important to our customers, and JetBlue’s
network paired with their award-winning service, are the perfect
fit,” said Vasu Raja, Chief Revenue Officer at American Airlines.
“Both airlines’ customers value access to more destinations,
whether it’s a JetBlue customer who wants more direct access to
South America from New York, or an American customer who wants more
robust service to Florida. Together, we can give our customers the
best of both worlds.”
Exceptional experience: Industry-leading products and
enhancements to existing serviceJetBlue 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 Mint premium experience and
thoughtful core seating.
The premium experience will also be expanded to the fleet.
American intends to operate more dual-class regional aircraft
featuring first class beginning next year, providing the premium
experience customers in the Northeast prefer.
JetBlue is not joining oneworld® or the AA/IAG
Atlantic Joint Business Agreement and will continue with plans to
independently launch and operate transatlantic flights to London in
2021.
The implementation of the alliance agreement and other
arrangements described herein is subject to governmental
review.
Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking
Statements Certain 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 forward-looking statements may
be identified by words such as “may,” “will,” “expect,” “intend,”
“anticipate,” “believe,” “estimate,” “plan,” “project,” “could,”
“should,” “would,” “continue,” “seek,” “target,” “guidance,”
“outlook,” “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 American’s current
objectives, beliefs and expectations, and they are subject to
significant risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results
and financial position and timing of certain events to differ
materially from the information in the forward-looking statements.
These risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to,
those set forth from time to time in our filings with the
Securities and Exchange Commission. There may be other factors of
which we are not currently aware that may affect matters 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 to 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 do not assume any obligation
to publicly update or supplement any forward-looking statement to
reflect actual results, changes in assumptions or changes in other
factors affecting these forward-looking statements other than as
required by law. Any forward-looking statements speak only as of
the date hereof or as of the dates indicated in the statement.
About JetBlue Airways JetBlue is New York's
Hometown Airline®, and a leading carrier in Boston, Fort
Lauderdale-Hollywood, Los Angeles, Orlando, and San Juan. JetBlue
carries customers across the U.S., Caribbean, and Latin America.
For more information, visit jetblue.com.
About American Airlines Group American’s
purpose is to care for people on life’s journey. Shares of American
Airlines Group Inc. trade on Nasdaq under the ticker symbol AAL and
the company’s stock is included in the S&P 500. Learn more
about what’s happening at American by visiting news.aa.com and
connect with American on Twitter @AmericanAir and at
Facebook.com/AmericanAirlines.
American Airlinesmediarelations@aa.com
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