In an email to JetBlue TrueBlue members that its loyalty partnership with TAP (Portugal) would be ending. It already has Lisbon landing slots, are flights next?
JetBlue Announces Loyalty Partnership With TAP To End
JetBlue sent a late night email to TrueBlue members on Friday that it would terminate the loyalty partnership it shared with TAP. It made it clear that this did not effect its purchased codeshare tickets.
“We wanted to let you know that our loyalty partnership with TAP Air Portugal will be coming to an end. Our codeshare partnership will continue and this will not impact codeshare bookings.
The last day you can book TAP Air Portugal flights to earn or redeem TrueBlue points will be 9/30/25. The deadline to travel and submit any requests for retroactive TrueBlue points must also be completed on or before 9/30/25. Please note, this partnership termination will not impact any cash bookings made on TAP Air Portugal. We apologize for any inconvenience.” – JetBlue TrueBlue
JetBlue Owns Landing Slots At Lisbon
In November of 2023, JetBlue applied for sufficient landing slots at Lisbon to operate two daily departures. Flights would likely operate once daily from Boston, and another from New York-JFK as they have done with London, and Paris for example. In June of last year, the slots were approved for the upcoming season but JetBlue instead doubled down on a codeshare partnership in February 2025 and reciprocal loyalty program recognition.
“JetBlue and TAP Air Portugal announced they are extending their existing partnership with the addition of reciprocal point earning and redemption for award travel, available now. Members of JetBlue’s TrueBlue loyalty program and of TAP’s Miles&Go program are now able to earn and redeem points using the program of their choice when flying across either network. It marks the first time JetBlue TrueBlue members can redeem TrueBlue points for flights on one of JetBlue’s European airline partners.” – JetBlue
The partnership might have been to connect JetBlue customers originating on its operated flights and then carry them onward throughout TAP’s network. That would explain the slot requests but perhaps equipment deliveries forced JetBlue to rethink its approach and codeshare and align the loyalty program with TAP too. However, it’s also possible that the TAP tie-up was struck to keep JetBlue from operating the route at all. Most of the Portuguese diaspora in the US is in Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and New York with a strong contingent in California. Due to the proximity of Lisbon to Boston (3,215 nautical miles), it can be covered by the airline’s A321LR fleet, but the upcoming XLRs make it much more comfortable especially during challenging winds. The carrier is set to receive some of that 13-aircraft order this fall.
Announcement Imminent?
Nothing had changed until Friday night when the end to the loyalty program partnership was announced with an end date of September 30th, less than seven months after it began. With just 65 days notice, and impending deliveries of more than enough A321XLRs to operate the flight itself, it seems an announcement – after an extended process – may finally be imminent.
Then again, perhaps not. JetBlue’s loyalty partnership with TAP has not led to the same land grab for award seats that its partnership with Japan Airlines has. Maybe it simply wasn’t working out.
Still, the timing leads me to believe that JetBlue’s own flights might finally be taking off. Notice of 60, 90, or 120 days seems more standard. And it would make sense that the carrier wanted to make sure expected deliveries are close to becoming actual deliveries after the delay issues engine manufacturers have experienced over the last couple of years. Airbus announced some deliveries could extend for up to three more years. It also stands to reason that codeshares would remain in effect as both airlines could benefit from onward travel partners, though TAP is a member of the Star Alliance and has plenty of support from United and Air Canada for North American bound travelers.
Conclusion
After nearly two years of speculation (longer by this author) JetBlue’s late night announcement, short timeline, and new aircraft delivery seem to point to one conclusion: it will soon fly to Lisbon. It’s clear that the airline sees its market position as being an international carrier and continues to explore options that take JetBlue fliers to Europe from Boston and New York. Interest in travel to Portugal has been incredibly high over the last two years and it makes sense that the airline would want to capture that momentum at its earliest opportunity.
What do you think?
Slots at LIS are public and JetBlue owns absolutely none. They got 346 slots in winter 2024 they did not use them and lost them. In summer 2025 they asked for 840 slots and got none. And for winter 2025 they did not even applied. So they have no slots at LIS a very slot constrained airport and will likely not get for summer 2026 as Lis Airport prioritises new routes for remaining slot allocation. You cam check the slot lists here https://slots.nav.pt/en/airports/lisbon
Wahhh! Sounds like another Delta fanboy always worried about JetBlue.
Very odd:
– B6 is sucking up to UA (founding member of Star) by providing two gates at JFK
– IIRC, Der Kaiser (Luft Group) of the Star Alliance was consulted prior to the B6/UA hook up
– TAP has been a Star partner since 2005
– The Portuguese government wants to privatize TAP
– all the Euro mega carriers (IAG, Der Kaiser, KLM/Air France) are kicking the tires, sniffing around Lisbon
– The current B6 Euro footprint avoids the home base of any Star members
Is the Kaiser using B6 as a pawn in this three dimensional chess game to acquire TAP?
Just what a carrier who’s bleeding money needs to do, launch another loss route to Europe.
JetBlue just sold its first two XLRs to Aegean. Stop with this nonsense about impending deliveries. The ship is unfortunately sinking and they’re shuffling the deck chairs.
The XLRs were never delivered to JetBlue, Aegean is acquiring them directly from Airbus. They were pretty near ready for delivery though and are mostly fitted out. I understand Aegean are making cosmetic changes to the cabin but not much more.