THE bilateral codeshare between JetBlue Airways, New York’s hometown airline, and Emirates, the Dubai-based international carrier and one of the world’s fastest growing airlines is now available for sale. The partnership connects two of the industry’s most-acclaimed brands and is expected to deliver considerable benefit to communities across the JetBlue network.
JetBlue will place its “B6” code on all Emirates flights to and from the US, including the newly inaugurated non-stop Emirates route between New York and Milan. JetBlue intends to file for approval to codeshare on the recently announced Emirates route between Dubai and JetBlue’s focus city in Boston, Massachusetts.
Dave Barger, JetBlue’s president and chief executive officer says: “For many years Emirates has provided customers across our network with a considerable number of high-quality travel options to destinations across the globe. Emirates has been an integral part of JetBlue’s successful airline partnership strategy, spurring global demand for travel in many of our key connecting markets, and ultimately contributing to JetBlue’s network growth and the jobs and investments that flow from it.”
“Emirates is globally renowned for superior customer focus and care, and to be their primary partner in one of the world’s most competitive markets creates great benefits for JetBlue’s customers,” said Robin Hayes, JetBlue’s chief commercial officer. “Additionally, through this arrangement JetBlue and Emirates will now be able to offer US government employees and contractors a competitive choice of destinations and itineraries throughout the Emirates network. Emirates’ growth to Boston means growth for JetBlue. Demand for online connections through Boston is strong, and we expect to announce new destinations from Boston as a direct result of our partnership with Emirates.”
The JetBlue-marketed routes operated by Emirates available for sale via global distribution systems (GDSs) are – Dallas/Fort Worth – Dubai, Houston/Intercontinental – Dubai, Los Angeles – Dubai, New York/JFK – Dubai, New York/JFK – Milan, San Francisco – Dubai, Seattle – Dubai and Washington D.C./Dulles – Dubai.
The partnership between JetBlue and Emirates began in 2010 with an interline agreement that was extended to a one-way code share agreement in April 2012 when Emirates placed its “EK” code on JetBlue flights to 28 destinations in the United States and Caribbean.
Members of Emirates Skywards, the airline’s frequent flyer programme, can earn miles on JetBlue-operated flights and also redeem miles for flights to any of JetBlue’s 79 destinations throughout the Americas. Similarly, members of JetBlue’s TrueBlue loyalty programme can earn points for Emirates-operated flights worldwide. Reciprocal redemption is planned for the future.