Despite opposition from some pilots, American Airlines and JetBlue have kicked off the first phase of their Northeast alliance.
They have announced nearly 80 routes from New York and Boston which are now available for sale on both airlines as codeshare flights.
American’s customers will get access to 49 codeshare routes operated on JetBlue, while JetBlue customers can book on more than 25 routes on American Airlines.
American and JetBlue will also start adding 33 new domestic and international routes in New York and Boston which begin in June.
The airlines will add more routes in the future and expand the partnership across their frequent flyer programs.
"This is the first step to delivering the best customer proposition with the biggest network in New York and Boston," said Vasu Raja, American’s Chief Revenue Officer.
"In the months ahead, we’ll continue to create a seamless experience that’s easy for our customers."
JetBlue pilots narrowly rejected the new partnership.
The Air Line Pilots Association says it is ready to discuss the issues with JetBlue management and is seeking ‘contractual assurances that protect jobs and provide meaningful career improvements.’
Written by Ray Montgomery, US Editor
