JetBlue and Emirates to expand partnership agreement with bilateral codeshare

New York’s Hometown Airline, JetBlue Airways, and Emirates the Dubai-based international carrier and one of the world’s fastest growing airlines, has announced intent to expand their current partnership to include bilateral codesharing. This is pending Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and Department of Transportation (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 US 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 throughout the Americas. Similarly, members of JetBlue’s TrueBlue loyalty program can earn points for Emirates-operated flights worldwide.