JetBlue and American Airlines are teaming up to add over 30 new flights in the Northeast, providing insight into how the two carriers will codeshare and collaborate. JetBlue’s additions mark a direct challenge to United Airlines while American Airlines reinforces its strength in Boston and New York.
New American Airlines International Routes
For years, American Airlines has gradually reduced international service from New York JFK. But with its new JetBlue partnership, American now has a unique opportunity to leverage feeder flights from across the USA to offer more international service.
AA will add six new international flights from JFK, including four to Latin America and two to the Caribbean:
- Bogota, Colombia (BOG) — daily — Airbus A319 — Year-Around
- Cali, Colombia (CLO) — daily — Airbus A319 — Year-Around
- Medellin, Colombia (MDE) — daily — Airbus A319 — Year-Around
- Providenciales, Turks & Caicos (PLS) — Saturdays — Boeing 737-800 — Seasonal
- Santiago, Chile (SCL) — 3x weekly — Boeing 777-200 — Year-Around
- St. Lucia (UVF) — Saturdays — Boeing 737-800 — Seasonal
American previously announced service to Athens, Rio de Janeiro, and Tel Aviv form JFK. Once transatlantic travel resumes, I would expect the resumption of certain European routes as well.
New American Airlines Domestic Routes
American will also add a number of flights from both Boston and New York:
- Boston (BOS)
- Asheville, North Carolina (AVL)
- Columbus, Ohio (CMH)
- Jackson Hole, Wyoming (JAC)
- Traverse City, Michigan (TVC)
- Wilmington, North Carolina (ILM)
- New York (JFK)
- Orange County, California (SNA)
- New York (LGA)
- Kansas City, Missouri (MCI)
- Key West, Florida (EYW)
- Myrtle Beach, South Carolina (MYR)
- Pensacola, Florida (PNS)
- Rapid City, South Dakota (RAP)
- Savannah, Georgia (SAV)
The Orange County – New York flight is quite a surprise and the Boston additions restore BOS as a major focus city for American Airlines.
New JetBlue Routes
- Newark (EWR)
- Aguadilla, Puerto Rico (BQN)
- Cartagena, Colombia (CTG)
- Martha’s Vineyard, Massachusetts (MVY)
- Nantucket, Massachusetts (ACK)
- Port-au-Prince, Haiti (PAP)
- Puerto Plata, Dominican Republic (POP)
- Seattle, Washington (SEA)
- St. John’s, Antigua (ANU)
- St. Lucia (UVF)
- St. Thomas, USVI (STT)
- New York (LGA)
- Boise, Idaho (BOI)
- Charleston, South Carolina (CHS)
- Denver, Colorado (DEN)
- Kalispell, Montana (FCA)
- Martha’s Vineyard, Massachusetts (MVY)
JetBlue’s new service represents a direct to challenge to United Airlines in Newark and between LGA-DEN.
What Can We Learn From These New Routes?
These new routes tell us a number of things about the JetBlue – American Airlines partnership:
- The leisure-dominated route additions reflect that business travel remains depressed
- American and JetBlue will focus on breadth, not depth
- For example, combined the two carriers will offer about the same amount of daily service between New York and Los Angeles as American did alone prior to the pandemic
- JFK is on track to become a large international hub from American Airlines once again
Reciprocal Earning Benefits
American and JetBlue also announced:
- reciprocal point earnings is coming this spring
- reciprocal elite benefits and award redemptions will come at unspecified later point
JetBlue currently does not offer business class (Mint) upgrades to its elite Mosaic members, like American Airlines offers its top-tier Executive Platinum members even on premium transcontinental routes. It would not surprise me to see American Airlines copy JetBlue on routes in which they overlap.
For example, we may see the Los Angeles – New York route upgradable only with miles or systemwide upgrades (perhaps with e-500 mile stickers). This would be spun as a way to preserve the product, though I expect paid prices will trend closer to JetBlue’s pricing of about $500 one-way.
On the other hand, I expect JetBlue elite members to have access to Main Cabin Extra and American elite members to have access to JetBlue’s Extra Legroom section.
CONCLUSION
Codeshare flights between JetBlue and American Airlines will launch next week. In the weeks ahead, expect to earn JetBlue points on American Airlines and vice-versa. The new flights indicate the new partners will target leisure travel…and also target United Airlines at its fortress Newark hub.
image: American Airlines
With Alaska/American/Jet Blue migrating towards each other it’s beginning to look bleak for Delta and United in going it alone. Delta is especially weakened with its investments in LATAM and Virgin and United reacting with silly moves like launching BOS-LHR flights this summer to try and battle a much nimbler Jet Blue.
This summer/fall we may see the next wave of consolidations. Are two mega carriers in the cards?
The JetBlue LGA-DEN flight is interesting since pre-pandemic the flights to DEN were extremely limited (1x JFK, 1x Boston). LGA-DEN is also flown by WN and DL, in addition to the UA flights to EWR and the DL flights to JFK. While there is definitely the market for Denver (Airport concourses have been fairly busy the times I’ve flown the past couple of months.
I wonder how much of these announcements are just marketing fluff? If the the pandemic continues or people postpone flying they can say the start of service is delayed due to market conditions anyway. Is it really just a way to keep their brand in front of people?
Can’t understand why either of these airlines do not have a direct flight from NY into Daytona Beach, FL.