United Airlines and JetBlue Airways have recently received approval from the United States Department of Transportation (DOT) to move forward with their Blue Sky partnership. This news comes after a complaint was filed by Spirit Airlines to the DOT stating that the proposed collaboration between the two airlines would be anti-competitive.
The Blue Sky agreement was announced by United Airlines and JetBlue on May 29, 2025. The agreement includes reciprocal loyalty benefits, slot and flight time trades at airports serving the New York area, and technology exchanges. However, Spirit Airlines filed a complaint with the DOT on June 24, raising concerns about the potential anti-competitive nature of the proposed partnership.
Fortunately for United and JetBlue, the DOT has granted approval for the Blue Sky alliance to proceed. In a statement, JetBlue expressed their gratitude to the DOT for their review of Blue Sky. This comes after Spirit Airlines urged the DOT to reject the partnership, claiming that it would make JetBlue a “de facto vassal” of United.
In response to Spirit’s objections, JetBlue and United stated that the partnership is a pro-competition collaboration that would benefit US consumers by providing more flight options and choices for passengers. Both airlines emphasized that the partnership is an arms-length agreement, meaning that they will maintain their independence and competitiveness.
The Blue Sky alliance offers customers of both airlines more options for flights and reciprocal frequent-flier benefits. United’s MileagePlus loyalty members will now be able to earn and use miles on most JetBlue flights, while JetBlue’s TrueBlue customers will have the same benefits on most United flights. Additionally, priority boarding, access to preferred and extra legroom seats, and same-day standby/switch will be available for passengers on both airlines.
As part of the agreement, United will also unlock slots at New York’s John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) for up to seven daily round-trip flights out of JFK Terminal 6, starting in 2027. In exchange, JetBlue and United will exchange eight flight timings at Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR).
While approval has been granted by the DOT, the implementation of Blue Sky has not yet begun. Both airlines plan to start introducing new customer benefits in the fall of 2025, with a phased rollout.
This partnership also marks United’s return to JFK after ceasing service in 2022. United’s CEO, Scott Kirby, has acknowledged that withdrawing from JFK was a mistake, as other major US carriers were able to attract lucrative business travelers at the airport. With JetBlue gaining more slots at EWR and United returning to JFK by 2027, the slot swap is expected to be a net-neutral exchange. It is unclear at this time which routes United will operate out of JFK upon their return.