American Airlines Group Inc. (NASDAQ: AAL) and JetBlue (NASDAQ: JBLU) are delivering on their promise to introduce better travel choices on routes to and from New York (JFK, LGA and EWR) and Boston (BOS), as they launch nearly 80 codeshare flights and enhanced schedules on key routes. American is also introducing 18 new routes beginning this summer, including six new routes from JFK to Latin America and the Caribbean. Codeshare flights are available for purchase today for travel starting Feb. 25, and American’s new summer flights from New York and Boston will be available for purchase Feb. 22.
“This is the first step to delivering the best customer proposition with the biggest network in New York and Boston,” said Vasu Raja, American’s Chief Revenue Officer. “In the months ahead, we’ll continue to create a seamless experience that’s easy for our customers, supports our communities and leads to more growth for our team.”
American and JetBlue announced their Northeast Alliance in July, followed by the airlines’ intent to introduce key elements of the alliance after review by the Department of Transportation in January.
“Our alliance with American opens the door for JetBlue to successfully enter into new markets, introducing more choices and our award-winning service and low fares to more customers,” said Scott Laurence, head of revenue and planning, JetBlue. “The alliance is also essential to getting our planes back in the air profitably and crewmembers working again.”
New routes
The Northeast Alliance opens up new growth opportunities for both carriers by finding ways to better utilize existing gates and slots in congested Northeast airports while offering customers a seamless travel experience.
International Growth
On May 6, American will launch three new daily routes from JFK to Colombia – Cali (CLO), Bogota (BOG) and Medellin (MDE) – and will begin flying three times per week to Santiago, Chile (SCL) from JFK on a Boeing 777-200, until flights begin operating daily in November. Sun-seeking customers can also look forward to new Saturday service from JFK to the soothing waves in St. Lucia (UVF) and the beautiful beaches in Turks and Caicos (PLS) beginning on June 5, complementing JetBlue’s existing service..
Domestic Growth
This summer, American will also launch 12 new domestic routes, from New York (JFK and LGA) and Boston (BOS), including the following:
| Origin | Destination | Season |
| BOS | Asheville, North Carolina (AVL) | June 5 – Nov. 6 |
| BOS | Columbus, Ohio (CMH) | Aug. 17, year-round |
| BOS | Jackson Hole, Wyoming (JAC) | June 5 – Sept. 4 |
| BOS | Traverse City, Michigan (TVC) | June 5 – Sept. 6 |
| BOS | Wilmington, North Carolina (ILM) | June 5 – Aug. 14 |
| JFK | Orange County, California (SNA) | June 2, year-round |
| LGA | Kansas City, Missouri (MCI) | Sept. 8, year-round |
| LGA | Key West, Florida (EYW) | June 5 – Sept. 4 |
| LGA | Myrtle Beach, South Carolina (MYR) | June 3 – Sept. 7 |
| LGA | Pensacola, Florida (PNS) | June 3 – Sept. 7 |
| LGA | Rapid City, South Dakota (RAP) | June 5 – Sept. 4 |
| LGA | Savannah, Georgia (SAV) | June 3 – Sept. 7 |
Also launching this summer is previously announced service from LGA to Glacier National Park in Kalispell, Montana, (FCA) and to TVC. As part of the codeshare with JetBlue, all new routes will be operated by American, but available for booking on aa.com or JetBlue.com.
Enhanced schedules in key markets
Customers will soon benefit from aligned schedules in key markets supported by the reciprocal codeshare. Beginning in April, American and JetBlue will offer more flights than any other carrier when they coordinate convenient schedules on the popular New York (JFK and EWR) to Los Angeles (LAX) route. Customers will have the most choices — 14 daily flights — between the two carriers and will have access to the state-of-the art Airbus A321T aircraft or JetBlue’s A321 aircraft featuring Mint. American and JetBlue will also provide enhanced schedules between the following markets:
| Origin | Destination |
| BOS | Fort Lauderdale (FLL) |
| BOS | MIA |
| BOS | Washington, D.C. (DCA) |
| BOS | West Palm Beach (PBI) |
| LGA | BOS |
| LGA | DCA |
| New York (JFK and EWR) | Fort Lauderdale (FLL) |
| New York (JFK and EWR) | LAX |
| New York (JFK and EWR) | MIA |
| New York (JFK and EWR) | San Francisco (SFO) |
| New York (JFK and EWR) | West Palm Beach (PBI) |
Codeshare flights begin next week
Codeshare on domestic flights are available for purchase today for flights beginning Feb. 25. American’s customers will have access to 49 codeshare routes on JetBlue, while JetBlue customers will have access to more than 25 routes on American. The airlines expect to begin codesharing sales on the new international routes soon.* As with all American-marketed codeshare flights, AAdvantage members will be able to earn miles.
A long-standing industry practice, codesharing provides access to a broader network by allowing travelers to book a single itinerary directly with their preferred airline for flights operated by a partner airline. The first routes available for purchase will include domestic point-to-point markets, some operated by only one carrier and others operated by both airlines.
More Northeast markets, including connections operated by a mix of both airlines through Boston and New York, will be added regularly throughout the first half of this year. All flights are bookable on aa.com, making booking easy and familiar for American’s customers…
