JetBlue and Emirates to Expand Partnership Agreement with Bilateral Codeshare
JetBlue Airways (NASDAQ: JBLU), New York’s Hometown AirlineTM, and Emirates, the Dubai-based international carrier and one of the world’s fastest growing airlines, today announced intent to expand their current partnership to include bilateral codesharing, pending FAA and DOT regulatory approval and subject to receipt of foreign government operating authority. Under the expanded agreement, JetBlue will place its “B6” airline code on all flights currently operated by Emirates between the U.S. and Dubai International Airport, as well as between New York’s John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) and Milan, Italy.
The agreement deepens a three-year partnership between JetBlue and Emirates. Emirates started placing its code on select JetBlue-operated flights in April 2012, expanding an interline agreement that dates back to 2010. Current codeshare routes offered by Emirates on JetBlue-operated flights cover 28 destinations including Boston, Chicago, Orlando and Puerto Rico. Since March this year, Emirates also began placing its code on additional JetBlue routes, including Bridgetown, Barbados, Cancun, Mexico, Montego Bay, Jamaica and Santo Domingo, Santiago and Punta Cana, Dominican Republic. Through the existing agreement, customers enjoy the convenience of a single combined ticket for Emirates and JetBlue-operated flights, plus other benefits including one-stop check-in and baggage transfer.
Members of Skywards, the Emirates reward program, can earn miles on JetBlue-operated flights and also redeem miles for flights to any of JetBlue’s 77 destinations (and counting) throughout the Americas. Similarly, members of JetBlue’s TrueBlue loyalty program can earn points for Emirates-operated flights worldwide.
“As Emirates continues to expand its presence in the U.S. market, our partnership offering with JetBlue provides customers with convenient connections from its extensive network to our seven U.S. gateways, including our twice daily A380 service non-stop from JFK to Dubai,” said Thierry Antinori, Emirates’ Executive Vice President of Passenger Sales Worldwide. “Offering a boost to tourism and added convenience for inbound travellers, the codeshare also gives Emirates’ customers a new choice of destinations with the benefit of a single combined ticket.”
“Putting our code on another airline is a significant milestone for JetBlue; we’re proud to do it with Emirates, a fantastic partner for JetBlue over the past years,” said JetBlue’s Chief Commercial Officer Robin Hayes. “Emirates’ product and network is exceptional and has been providing our customers easy access to all corners of the globe in comfort and style. We trust this expansion will create additional ease of travel for our customers.”
Emirates’ global network encompasses 133 destinations in 77 countries across six continents and the airline currently operates 56 passenger flights per week between Dubai and the U.S. including flights from Dallas/Fort Worth, Houston, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Seattle, Washington, D.C. and the twice daily A380 service from JFK to Dubai International Airport. , Emirates’ extensive network gives travellers in the U.S. access not only to the carrier’s home of Dubai, the commercial and tourism hub of the United Arab Emirates and the Gulf region, but also to cities across Africa, India, and throughout Asia Pacific.
From JFK, Emirates offers two daily nonstop flights to its global hub at Dubai International Airport – both aboard its flagship A380 – offering travellers fine dining, personalized service and multi award-winning entertainment options. From Dulles, Emirates offers one daily nonstop flight to Dubai. Winner of over 500 international awards, Emirates’ unique service offering includes complimentary chauffeur-driven airport transfers for premium customers, privacy suites in First Class, amongst the most generous baggage allowance in the industry with two pieces of check-in baggage of up to 23kgs each permitted in Economy Class and an inflight entertainment system featuring over 1,400 channels of new release Hollywood movies, TV, music and games. Emirates will further expand at Kennedy International Airport later this year with new daily nonstop service to Milan, Italy, beginning Oct. 1, 2013.
Known for its award-winning customer service, JetBlue offers transfer customers from Emirates’ network of global destinations a premium experience that includes all-leather seating, unlimited free snacks and drinks, plus the most legroom in coach of any U.S. airline (based on average fleet wide seat-pitch). JetBlue operates one of America’s youngest airline fleets, with Airbus and EMBRAER aircraft. At JFK Airport, JetBlue operates from its acclaimed 26-gate Terminal 5, while Emirates operates from the adjacent Terminal 4, allowing for fast and easy connections between flights.
Passengers travelling in First Class and Business Class on Emirates-operated flights, as well as Skywards Platinum and Gold members, have access to the Emirates Lounge at JFK which was named one of the Top Airport Lounges in North America by Frommer’s Travel Guides in 2011. Premium passengers, including Gold and Platinum Skywards members, will also have access to lounges at the other Emirates gateways, including the dedicated Emirates’ lounge in San Francisco.
