In the wake of recent failed partnership discussions between American Airlines and JetBlue, and the earlier court-ordered termination of the potential Northeast Alliance (NEA), JetBlue has made headlines again for rumoured partnership negotiations with United Airlines.
Yesterday, Reuters reported union backlash against the rumoured partnership. According to a letter obtained by Reuters, JetBlue Airways pilots are preparing legal challenges against the proposed partnership.
Here’s what has happened this week:
On Monday, a letter from American Airlines’ Vice Chair and Chief Strategy Officer to employees confirmed partnership talks between American and JetBlue have ended and revealed that a lawsuit seeking damages has been filed against JetBlue. In the letter, quoted by Forbes, Steve Johnson said:
“In recent months, we had been exploring an opportunity to further enhance our network by renewing a partnership with JetBlue. As always in considering partnerships, the objective was to advance our business strategy and enhance our customer proposition by building on American’s network position and giving a partner’s customers access to our global network and the world’s best loyalty program in AAdvantage. Although we proposed a very attractive proposition to JetBlue and its customers and team, it became clear over time that JetBlue was focused on different business priorities. Ultimately, we were unable to agree on a construct that preserved the benefits of the partnership we envisioned, made sense operationally or financially, or was consistent with the travel rewards and co-branded card business objectives that are so important to our strategy and our customers.”
This week however, Reuters reported three industry sources have revealed JetBlue and United are currently in talks for a partnership focused on extended connectivity and loyalty programme alignment.
The Reuters article explained:
“Sources said the two airlines have yet to finalize all the details and cautioned that things could still change. Asked for comment, a JetBlue spokesperson referred to remarks made earlier on Tuesday by the airline’s president, Marty St. George, on a conference call after the company released quarterly results. St. George told analysts and investors that the company was negotiating with a domestic airline with a larger network and that an announcement was expected in the current quarter. He did not elaborate.”
Do you think a potential JetBlue & United partnership will go ahead?
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