United Airlines and JetBlue Airways announced a new collaboration on Thursday. The deal, called Blue Sky, also benefits JetBlue and United customers, including a small redistribution of the New York-area airline’s flight network.
The Blue Sky collaboration is somewhat similar to JetBlue’s recent partnership with American Airlines, which fell into a federal lawsuit in 2023. Unlike partnerships, United and JetBlue do not cooperate with pricing or schedules at airports where airlines fly.
One of United’s greatest benefits from this new collaboration is to lease seven takeoff and landing slots from JETBLUE to John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK). JetBlue and United will also exchange timings for eight daily flights at Newar Liberty International Airport. The airport measures takeoff and landing, but is not restricted as in JFK.
The plagued New Jersey Airport has been plagued by problems this year, forcing the Federal Aviation Administration to reduce the number of flights coming and going to the hub. It came after the suspension of air traffic restrictions caused a long-term shortage of air traffic controllers to boil, causing numerous delays and cancellations. United have already cut 35 daily departures, accounting for around 10% of Newark flights.
United will return to JFK after it recently left in 2022, but say its departure is temporary. This return will not take place until 2027, when the airport’s new glossy terminal 6 is scheduled to be completed. It is being built alongside the JetBlue hub at Terminal 5 and is connected.
“This actually helps make JETBLUE a stronger competitor for Delta and Americans at JFK because United Airlines customers who live in certain areas of New York may tend to fly JetBlue when mutual loyalty programs are implemented.” “This will make Americans and Deltas work hard to compete for their customers for the airline.”
On the other hand, passengers can benefit from the strength of the networks of both airlines when booking flights. The new interline agreement allows passengers to purchase JetBlue flights via United.com and its mobile app, and vice versa, allowing passengers to fly both airlines on a single itinerary.
“For travelers who often fly with JetBlue, the addition of an interline agreement with United not only offers more options in terms of destination, but also can help Uber when things get unhappy,” said Katy Nastro, travel expert and spokesman for Going App. For example, she said, “(JetBlue) customers who can have the ability to rebook customers who are dealing with significant delays and cancellations to United Flights offer far more options during already stressful times.”
This means that JetBlue Fliers can book flights with a much larger network of United, but loyal to United can take advantage of JETBLUE’s JFK and its much larger presence in New England and Florida.
Another important aspect of the Blue Sky contract is that you can earn and use JetBlue TrueBlue points on United Flights. United didn’t say which JetBlue flights were excluded, but they told them far away that JetBlue’s transatlantic European flights would be included.
Customers can earn elite credits, and those with elite status will receive royalty perks when flying on flights with other airlines, such as priority boarding, free check bags, and choice of seating of their choice. You even have the opportunity to bump into your seat in the extra legroom at check-in. It’s evenly made with JetBlue and Economy Plus United. Two notable exceptions: there are no mutual upgrades of elites hoping to hit first class in United’s first class or Jetblue mint (Jetblue’s version of business). Also, mutual lounge access is not mentioned.
“It’s a relationship that strengthens United and JetBlue, but the two airlines will remain independent,” Harteveldt said. “They compete for the same customers.”
When will you come and what will you next?
Don’t expect blue sky to be implemented anytime soon. The announcement shows that certain aspects of the program will come into effect later this year, with details coming soon, but the airlines are not offering a specific timeline. For example, Interline Agreements will require a lot of backend development to integrate the systems of two airlines, Hardveldt said.
The two domestic airlines participating in the collaboration always raise questions. Will this lead to a merger? United CEO Scott Kirby has already expressed his reluctance about the merger in an interview at the event Thursday, but there is no way to know for sure at this point. Still, the merger is dangerous, as JetBlue’s proposed merger with the ultimately doomed spirit airline can prove.
“It’s a very arm length relationship, but there’s a solid handshake between the two airlines,” Harteveldt said. “I think this is the beginning of what will become a much closer relationship between JetBlue and United once we get the first part of this implementation.”
