JetBlue has a clear objective in seeking a new airline partner: to expand its network.
“Our top priority is to create significant new opportunities for TrueBlue members to earn and redeem points,” said Marty St. George, JetBlue’s president, during the airline’s earnings call this week.
He illustrated a scenario where a frequent traveler needs to reach destinations like Boise or Omaha, which are currently unavailable on JetBlue’s East Coast-centric route map. The forthcoming partner—a yet-to-be-named U.S. domestic airline—will help address this gap.
This new partnership comes in the wake of a 2023 court ruling that required JetBlue and American Airlines to dissolve their Northeast Alliance partnership. As part of unwinding this agreement, American Airlines recently filed a lawsuit in Texas, claiming JetBlue owes over $1 million.
“We did not anticipate this turn of events,” Joanna Geraghty, JetBlue’s CEO, remarked concerning the lawsuit.
It’s clear, however, that American Airlines will not serve as JetBlue’s new domestic partner.
“While we offered a compelling proposal to JetBlue, it became evident that their business priorities have shifted,” said Steve Johnson, American’s vice chair and chief strategy officer, in a communication to staff.
With American out of the picture, JetBlue’s best options for expanding its U.S. route map for TrueBlue members include airlines like Alaska, Delta, Southwest, and United.
St. George mentioned that JetBlue plans to announce its new domestic partner by the end of June.
At Least Two New Cities Coming to JetBlue in 2025
“We will add several new destinations to our route map this year,” St. George noted, confirming that “several” might imply just two new cities, without going into further detail.
This expansion follows a 4.3% reduction in JetBlue’s schedule in the first quarter compared to 2024, with another potential 3.5% cut in the second quarter. The airline has also halted its full-year projections due to economic uncertainties.
Demand for domestic travel has slowed significantly since January, causing JetBlue to see a decline in bookings throughout the first quarter. Although bookings have stabilized since early April, they remain below initial expectations, St. George reported.
“I would hesitate to simplify it as merely a red-versus-blue recession,” he commented, noting that coastal areas have been particularly affected.
This downturn has led JetBlue to reduce off-peak flights on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Saturdays. The airline has also exited 15 cities and numerous routes this year as part of a larger restructuring initiative called JetForward to regain profitability.
Additionally, JetBlue canceled plans to launch service from Boston Logan International Airport (BOS) to Halifax Stanfield International Airport (YHZ) in Nova Scotia, scheduled for June.
In its first quarter, JetBlue incurred a net loss of $208 million on revenue of $2.1 billion.
Before the recent slowdown, JetBlue had announced expansions to include destinations like Adolfo Suárez Madrid-Barajas Airport (MAD), Manchester-Boston Regional Airport (MHT) in New Hampshire, and more by 2025.
JetBlue’s Focus on Loyalty and Premium Offerings Pays Off
JetBlue leadership expressed satisfaction with the decision to enhance its premium and loyalty offerings just ahead of the downturn, as both segments outperformed economy leisure travel in the first quarter.
In January, the airline launched the JetBlue Premier Card, which contributed to a 7% increase in spending on cobranded credit cards during that period.
Details regarding the JetBlue Premier Card have been sourced independently by The Points Guy and have not been reviewed by the card issuer.
JetBlue also rebranded its extra-legroom seats as “EvenMore,” integrating them into a separate fare class for easier selection during booking.
Additionally, later this year, JetBlue will introduce its highly anticipated domestic first class, featuring a 2-2 seating layout in the front of its Airbus A320 and A220 aircraft. More details are forthcoming.
The airline is also set to launch its first airport lounge at New York’s John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) in the fourth quarter, with another at BOS planned for 2026.
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