Together, this partnership will deepen customer benefits and broaden travel choice for all travelers. This partnership, which was formally announced on Thursday, enables travelers to use supplemental miles and loyalty benefits on both carriers. This new partnership would return United’s flights from New York City’s own, John F. Kennedy Airport. JFK has never been anything but a dysfunctional port in the storm for travelers.
The announcement comes at a challenging time for JetBlue, which has struggled to compete against larger airlines such as Delta, American, and Southwest. In early trading on Thursday, JetBlue’s shares fell approximately 2%, reflecting investor concerns about the airline’s financial outlook. The company just recently retracted its full-year guidance, blaming an expected persistency of weak travel-related demand.
In its most recent quarter earnings report, JetBlue announced a $208 million loss for the three months ending in March. This loss, though alarming, was not as bad as the same quarter the year before. Back in January, JetBlue’s CEO Joanna Geraghty suggested an alliance with Alaska was maybe in the cards. During her visit, she announced that the airline had already been in discussions with other carriers to discuss potential future partnerships.
This new “Blue Sky” partnership has the potential to deliver real benefits to customers. Travelers will be able to earn and redeem bonus miles on both airlines. This change was a tremendous step forward in increasing their travel options and overall customer experience.
“This collaboration with United is a bold step forward for the industry – one that brings together two customer-focused airlines to deliver more choices for travelers and value across our networks,” – JetBlue CEO Joanna Geraghty
United Airlines’ CEO Scott Kirby echoed this sentiment, emphasizing the innovative nature of the partnership:
“Blue Sky reflects our airlines’ shared focus on innovation and the customer experience.” – United CEO Scott Kirby
The new alliance between JetBlue and United Airlines is ground breaking for the industry. Each business is partnering with the other to adjust to new market realities and increase their market competitiveness. They pool their resources and grow their networks. This fluidity allows them to adapt and innovate in their service offerings, making them better equipped to serve customer needs.
