JetBlue and British Airways have applied for a codeshare agreement with the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT), aiming to simplify transatlantic travel for passengers.
JetBlue said, “We are always looking for new ways to offer our customers more choice when traveling. With the new codeshare, customers will be able to seamlessly book a single ticket for travel on both airlines, providing an expanded network of destinations across Europe and the U.S.”
The proposed partnership would allow the airlines to leverage their extensive route networks, covering nearly 100 destinations across the U.S. and Europe. Travelers could fly from 75 domestic airports in JetBlue’s network, such as Charleston and Syracuse, to 17 cities served by British Airways, including Copenhagen and Lisbon.
JetBlue’s hubs are concentrated in the Northeast, with transatlantic flights departing from New York and Boston. Since launching its first routes to London in 2021, JetBlue now offers flights to Amsterdam, Paris, Dublin, and Edinburgh.
This codeshare agreement comes as JetBlue plans to reduce daily transatlantic frequencies during the slower winter season. If approved, the agreement would help JetBlue maintain capacity on these routes year-round by flying codeshare passengers.
The past year has seen JetBlue’s unsuccessful attempts at partnerships with American Airlines and Spirit Airlines. The Northeast Alliance with American Airlines, which had increased flights out of New York and Boston, was dissolved last summer due to antitrust issues. Additionally, a federal judge blocked JetBlue’s proposed merger with Spirit Airlines in January.
If the DOT approves the JetBlue and British Airways codeshare agreement, it would mark a significant expansion of both airlines’ networks, providing travelers with more flexibility and destination choices across the Atlantic.