JetBlue and United Airlines announced a new partnership Thursday that will allow regular flighters to earn and use points on airlines and exchange locations at New York regional airports.
As part of the deal, Manchester United will start to secure seven takeoffs and landings at John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York starting in 2027. The airline has not announced which routes will use those terminal slots.
The transaction still requires regulatory review.
This will be the first time Manchester United has returned to Kennedy Airport since 2022. JetBlue operates approximately 180 flights per day from Kennedy International Airport.
"United's global coverage perfectly complements JetBlue's East Coast leisure network and significantly expands the choices and interests of TrueBlue members, no matter where they travel in the world," JetBlue CEO Joanna Geraghty said in a statement Thursday.
"We are always looking for ways to make our Mileage Poole members more valuable and profitable, and this collaboration provides them with new and unique ways to leverage their hard-earned miles and find options that fit their schedules," co-CEO Scott Kirby said in a statement.
Jetblue and United said they will continue to manage and price the network independently, including launching new routes, frequencies and promotions.
Members of each company’s loyalty program will be able to use and earn points in both airlines and will have access to allowances for their own loyalty program, such as when flying between the two airlines, such as preferred boarding and seating.
New arrangements are scheduled to be launched this fall. These companies are still collated with some technical issues that will allow flyers to book joint flights via JetBlue and vice versa.
Stocks of the two airlines climbed before the market opened.
The announcement was published in the Federal Aviation Administration and said it was Expand Newark flight restrictions to June because Shortage of air traffic controllers and technical issues.
Manchester United has a hub in Newark. Cut some flights from the airport earlier this monthand Kirby A letter was sent to the client to discuss difficulties.