JetBlue and United Airlines have announced a new partnership that will see United resume operations at JFK International Airport after a two year hiatus. JetBlue will provide United with access to slots at JFK for up to seven daily round-trip flights starting in 2027. This collaboration comes after the Federal Aviation Administration extended flight limits at Newark due to air traffic controller shortages and technical issues.

United, which has a hub at Newark, recently reduced some flights at the New Jersey airport and CEO Scott Kirby addressed the challenges they are facing there. JetBlue, on the other hand, runs around 180 daily flights out of JFK and previously had a partnership with American Airlines in the Northeast. However, in 2023, JetBlue announced that it was ending the tie up after losing a court fight over the deal.

Under the new agreement, named Blue Sky, United and JetBlue will exchange eight flight timings at Newark. This partnership will also provide customers with access to the benefits of each airline’s loyalty program when flying on the other airline. Additionally, customers will be able to book flights on both airlines through each other’s websites and apps. United’s MileagePlus customers will also be able to earn and use miles on most JetBlue flights.

This partnership will offer customers a wider range of options for travel, with United’s global reach complementing JetBlue’s East Coast leisure network. Both airlines have stated that they will continue to manage and price their networks independently, including the launch of new routes, frequencies, and promotions. The perks for customers will remain the same on both airlines, meaning no changes to benefits when flying with either company.

JetBlue CEO Joanna Geraghty expressed excitement about the partnership, stating, “United’s global reach perfectly complements JetBlue’s East Coast leisure network, and significantly expands the options and benefits for TrueBlue members, no matter where in the world they are traveling. ” United CEO Scott Kirby also shared his enthusiasm, saying, “We’re always looking for ways to give our MileagePlus members even more value and benefits and this collaboration gives them new, unique ways to use their hard-earned miles and find options that fit their schedule.

This partnership is expected to bring significant benefits to both airlines and their customers. United frequent flyers will have more access from the Northeast to the Caribbean, while JetBlue members will have access to a wider range of international destinations. The companies are still working on how their respective reward programs will coexist, but for now, customers can look forward to more options and perks when flying with either JetBlue or United.