IndiGo, Delta Air Lines, Air France-KLM and Virgin Atlantic Announce Partnership to Link Fast-Growing Indian Economy with North America and Europe

The airline group signed a Memorandum of Understanding with plans to build an industry-leading partnership between North America, the U.K., Europe, India and beyond.

IndiGo, Delta Air Lines, Air France-KLM and Virgin Atlantic today announced plans to build an industry-leading partnership connecting India with Europe and North America, with ambitions to grow to a global scale. 

India, one of the worldโ€™s fastest-growing aviation markets, is at the heart of this collaboration. By linking IndiGoโ€™s extensive domestic network with Deltaโ€™s strength in North America and the transatlantic, the extensive reach of Air France-KLM in Europe and North America, and the U.K. and transatlantic presence of Virgin Atlantic, the partnership is poised to offer travelers broader access, smoother journeys, and a more consistent experience across continents. Linking dozens of cities in the United States, Canada, Europe and India, the airlines aim to meet rising demand for international travel while setting new standards for connectivity and cooperation in global aviation.

Pieter Elbers, CEO of IndiGo, said: โ€œIndiGo has embarked on an ambitious journey to become a global airline by 2030. This partnership represents another important milestone to pursue commercial synergies, operational excellence and innovation. This announcement not only expands our relationship with Air Franceโ€“KLM and Virgin Atlantic but also marks the beginning of an exciting new chapter as we welcome Delta Air Lines as a valued partner.  We are particularly excited to start our long-haul expansion from this Summer and connect with our partnersโ€™ networks to provide greater access to Europe and North America. This strategic partnership enables a compelling combined customer proposition in the form of comprehensive intercontinental connectivity, seamless experience and great loyalty value. It also lays the groundwork for us to exchange best practices in areas of technology, operational excellence and service delivery.โ€

Ed Bastian, CEO of Delta Air Lines, said: โ€œThis agreement is another example of our commitment to making travel more connected, more inclusive and more accessible. Combining our strengths with those of IndiGo, Air France-KLM, and Virgin Atlantic, will enable us to offer unparalleled connectivity and convenience, ensuring that our customers enjoy the highest standards of service and reliability across the globe. We look forward to restarting Deltaโ€™s direct service from the U.S. to India in the near future.โ€

Benjamin SmithCEO of Air France-KLM, said: โ€œWe are very glad to extend our existing partnership with IndiGo and to do so alongside our partners Delta and Virgin Atlantic. India is a strategic market for Air France-KLM, where we have a strong and historic presence soon to increase. We look forward to welcoming IndiGo customers on our flights and to play an active role in the countryโ€™s connectivity.โ€ 

Shai Weiss, CEO of Virgin Atlantic, said: โ€œIn our 25th year of flying to India, weโ€™re delighted to build on our Joint Venture with Delta and Air France-KLM, and our successful codeshare with IndiGo, by going further with this partnership. As IndiGo starts long haul operations, weโ€™ll connect four of the worldโ€™s largest economies, enhancing the travel experience for our guests, from greater connectivity and optimized flight times to loyalty benefits.โ€

Connecting Route Networks, 2022 and Beyond

IndiGo has had partnerships with Air France-KLM and Virgin Atlantic and with Air France-KLM since 2022. Since then, Air France, KLM and Virgin Atlantic customers have had access to more than 30 IndiGo points in India.

More recently, IndiGo announced the start of service to Europe, which, in addition to expanding the existing partnership with Air France-KLM and Virgin Atlantic transatlantic flights, facilitates a new partnership opportunity between IndiGo and Delta, enabling Indigoโ€™s customers to connect to Deltaโ€™s broad transatlantic network.  After commercial contracts and regulatory procedures are completed to allow IndiGo to sell partner flights as its own under its own 6E* marketing codes, IndiGo customers will be able to book onward travel on select flights operated by its international partners, making it easier to reach destinations across Europe and North America. These include:

  • KLM flights from Amsterdam to 30 points within Europe
  • Delta and KLM flights from Amsterdam to the United States and Canada
  • Virgin Atlantic flights from Manchester to the United States

For its part, KLMโ€™s recently announced new route connecting Amsterdam with Hyderabad offers further opportunity for cooperation with IndiGo. With the routeโ€™s launch in September 2025, Air France-KLM will begin selling IndiGo flights to 24 destinations beyond Hyderabad. 

IndiGo has previously announced that it will enhance its fleet of damp leased B787 to six aircraft later this year and has in place a long-term firm order of 30 Airbus A350-900 aircraft, with options for 70 more. As these aircraft join IndiGoโ€™s fleet, the airlineโ€™s long-haul expansion will enable further and deeper cooperation between IndiGo and Delta, Air France-KLM, and Virgin Atlantic in the future.

Delta, meanwhile, plans to resume services to India with nonstop flights between Atlanta and Delhi, subject to government approval. The service start date will be announced later. 

Future Collaboration

The MoU also creates a framework for deeper collaboration between the carriers on a bilateral and multilateral basis; contemplates commercial collaboration including network, loyalty, cargo and sales, subject to regulatory approvals; explores areas of non-commercial cooperation including aircraft maintenance, sustainability, training, ground handling; and acknowledges the need to develop advanced collaboration through use of technology to efficiently service joint customers. 

Frontier Airlines Debuts at Seattle Paine Field International Airport, Offering Ultra-Low Cost Travel to Denver, Las Vegas and Phoenix

To Celebrate, Americaโ€™s Greenest Airline Is Offering Fares as Low as $69*

Frontier Airlines (2nd) Airbus A321-271NX WL N619FR (msn 11407) BWI (Tony Storck). Image: 962340.
Frontier Airlines (2nd) Airbus A321-271NX WL N619FR (msn 11407) BWI (Tony Storck). Image: 962340.

EVERETT, Wash. โ€“ June 2, 2025 โ€“ Ultra-low fare carrier Frontier Airlines (Nasdaq: ULCC) made its debut at Seattle Paine Field International Airport (PAE) today with the launch of nonstop service to Denver International Airport (DEN), Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport (PHX) and Harry Reid International Airport in Las Vegas (LAS). Each route will operate twice per week, and will complement the airlineโ€™s existing service to seven destinations nonstop from Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA). To celebrate, Americaโ€™s Greenest Airline is offering fares as low as $69*.

โ€œWe are thrilled to launch our ultra-low cost service at PAE, unlocking more affordable and convenient travel options for consumers in the greater Seattle area and throughout Western Washington,โ€ said Jennifer de la Cruz, senior director of corporate communications, Frontier Airlines. โ€œWe want to thank the team at PAE for their support and collaboration, and canโ€™t wait to begin flying value-seeking travelers to Denver, Las Vegas, Phoenix, and the many exciting destinations we serve beyond.โ€

“Frontier’s new service at Paine Field reflects a shared commitment to delivering an exceptional customer experience and offering travelers more choice in Metro Seattle,” said Brett Smith, CEO of Propeller Airports. “Our partnership is built on providing a convenient, comfortable, and efficient alternative for travelers. Weโ€™re excited for Frontierโ€™s passengers to discover the unique, best-in-class service that sets Paine Field apart and enjoy the benefits of our growing reach.”

Frontier Airlines has introduced sweeping changes to its product and customer service offerings, ushering in โ€˜The New Frontier.โ€™ Among the enhancements is UpFront Plus seating, an upgraded seating option with extra leg and elbow room in the first two rows of the aircraft. Customers in UpFront Plus enjoy a window or aisle seat with extra legroom and a guaranteed empty middle seat. The airline also now offers unlimited companion travel for its most loyal customers, with the flexibility to choose a different companion on every Frontier flight. Debuting in late 2025, Frontier will begin offering First Class seating on every flight, combining unmatched comfort and space at Frontierโ€™s trademark affordable prices.

SOUTHWEST AIRLINES ANNOUNCES FUTURE PARTNERSHIP WITH CHINA AIRLINES

Interline agreement to connect America’s largest domestic carrier andย Taiwan-based China Airlines through shared gateways inย California,ย creating first trans-Pacific airline partnership for Southwest Airlinesย 

Southwest Airlines Boeing 737-8 MAX 8 N8742M (msn 61868) LAX (Michael B. Ing). Image: 960193.
Southwest Airlines Boeing 737-8 MAX 8 N8742M (msn 61868) LAX (Michael B. Ing). Image: 960193.
China Airlines Airbus A350-941 B-18912 (msn 162) AMS (Ton Jochems). Image: 949476.
China Airlines Airbus A350-941 B-18912 (msn 162) AMS (Ton Jochems). Image: 949476.

NEW DELHI, June 2, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — Southwest Airlines Co. (NYSE: LUV) and China Airlines Group, a Taiwan-based carrier, are in discussions to create an interline partnership in early 2026, with published connections expected to go on sale later this year. Executive Leadership from both carriers met this week at the International Air Transport Association (IATA) 2025 Annual General Meeting (AGM) in India to jointly announce the first trans-Pacific airline partnership for Southwest Airlinesยฎ

“We’re on a journey to bring more choices to our Customers. This initial work to partner with Taiwan-based China Airlines would allow for seamless trans-Pacific journeys across the Southwest network, furthering the reach of our Vision and Purposeโ€”to connect People with important moments in their lives,” said Andrew Watterson, Chief Operating Officer at Southwest Airlines. “As the largest carrier of domestic Passengers in the United States, we also carry more people to, from, and within California than any other airline1 and expect Southwest Customers could benefit immediately from having access to connections overseas through China Airlines.” 

“Growing our long-haul network always has been China Airlines’ long-term plan. As we expand our gateway operations in Los Angeles, San Francisco, and Seattle, as well as Ontario, California, we are pleased to include Southwest as one of our partners with its unique network that further expands North American connection opportunities into the Midwest and toward the East Coast.” said Kevin Chen, President at China Airlines. “In the future, customers may book China Airlines and Southwest Airlines itineraries under one ticket and enjoy seamless travel experiences. We believe this complementary cooperation will enhance travel options for our customers and improve connectivity to Asia for travelers in the domestic U.S. market.” 

Southwestยฎ is attending its first AGM since becoming a member carrier earlier this year. “We’ve found great interest globally in potential partnerships with Southwest and continue discussions here in New Delhi with several like-minded carriers attracted to our consistent Reliability, friendly brand, and unmatched network in the United States,” Watterson said. Earlier this year, Southwest launched a partnership with Icelandair that now connects Customers traveling between the U.S. and Europe on dual-carrier itineraries through gateway airports Baltimore/Washington, Denver, and Nashville. Beginning July 14, 2025, Icelandair and Southwest will add connecting service through Orlando, Pittsburgh, and Raleigh-Durham, providing more access between Europe and cities across the extensive Southwest Airlines network.  

Ethiopian Commences a New Passenger Service to Sharjah, UAE

"Ras Dashen", delivered May 15, 2015
Ethiopian Airlines Boeing 777-360 ER ET-ASK (msn 44550) YYZ (TMK Photography). Image: 958575.

Addis Ababa, 01 June 2025

Ethiopian Airlines, Africaโ€™s largest network operating carrier and one of the worldโ€™s
fastest-growing airline brands, has launched a new passenger service to Sharjah, United
Arab Emirates, effective June 1, 2025. The inaugural flight was celebrated with a vibrant
event attended by ambassadors, senior government officials, and Ethiopian Airlines
executives.
The new route will be operated four-times weekly, delivering convenient travel options
between Sharjah and the vast Ethiopian global network. The flights will also initiate a
significant trade, tourism, and cultural exchange between Africa and the Middle East.
Regarding the commencement of the service Ethiopian Airlines Group CEO Mr. Mesfin
Tasew Stated, โ€œWe are truly delighted to connect our passengers to an additional getaway in the
UAE with our new flights to Sharjah. We have been connecting the UAE and Africa for nearly
five decades now and the new service will help boost the investment, tourism, diplomatic and
socioeconomic bonds between the two regions.โ€
Ethiopian Airlines has been providing cargo services to Sharjah, one of the UAEโ€™s vibrant
cities known for its rich history, cultural heritage, and dynamic business environment.
With the launch of its new passenger flights to Sharjah, Ethiopian Airlines now offers a
convenient travel option for both business and leisure travelers. Passengers can look
forward to a seamless journey, supported by the airlineโ€™s state-of-the-art facilities and
world-class customer service, ensuring a comfortable and memorable flying experience.

Sharjah, the third-largest emirate in the UAE, joins Ethiopian Airlines’ network as its
second passenger destination in the country. Widely recognized as the UAEโ€™s cultural
capital, Sharjah also serves as an industrial powerhouse and educational hub. Its
convenient access to major international airports makes it a strategic gateway for global
companies seeking to tap into emerging markets.

Known as the cultural heart of the UAE, Sharjah is rapidly transforming into a sought-
after destination for adventure and eco-tourismโ€”particularly across its eastern and

central regions. This growth is creating significant opportunities in hospitality, leisure,
entertainment, food and beverage, retail, and other travel-related sectors.

TransNusa Increases Scheduled Flight Frequency to Twice Daily

TransNusa’s Scheduled Flight Frequency Increase to be Implemented in Two Phases

TransNusa Airbus A320-251N WL PK-TLA (msn 9440) DPS (Pascal Simon). Image: 959258.
TransNusa Airbus A320-251N WL PK-TLA (msn 9440) DPS (Pascal Simon). Image: 959258.

JAKARTA, June 2, 2025 – (ACN Newswire) – South East Asiaโ€™s first holistic premium service airline, PT TransNusa Aviation Mandiri, is further strengthening its presence in Perth by increasing the frequency of its scheduled flights for its Bali โ€“ Perth route to twice daily or 14 times a week from its current 7 times a week.

TransNusa Group Chief Executive Officer, Datuk Bernard Francis said that sales of tickets for the additional flights started yesterday.

โ€œWe will increase the frequency of flight in two phases. First phase will see TransNusaโ€™s scheduled flights increasing from 7 times weekly to 11 times weekly. The additional four flights will be scheduled for Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and Sunday,โ€ he said, adding that the first phase will begin on July 2.

With regard to the second phase, Datuk Francis said that TransNusa will increase its scheduled flight frequency from 11 times weekly to 14 times weekly starting July 18.

This announcement comes a little more than two months after TransNusa successfully launch its scheduled flights to Perth from its base in Bali on March 20, 2025.

Datuk Francis explained that TransNusa has plans to further strengthen and enhance its offerings to passengers in a bid to increase passengersโ€™ comfort on all its flights.

โ€œThe move to enhance our customer comfort is part of our plan to grow TransNusa as a secure and caring brand in line with our Premium Service Carrier status,โ€ Datuk Francis explained.

TransNusa, which has been operating its international flights as a Premium Service Airline and its domestic routes as a Low-Cost Carrier (LCC), was recently given the green light by the Indonesian Aviation Authority to operate as a Premium Service Airline in their domestic market as well.

This success comes on the back off its value-added services such as all the airlineโ€™s planes are configured with less seats than that of a LCC, the airline provides refund and unlimited flight changes for its Seat Plus and Flexi-Pro tickets, respectively, among others. TransNusa passengers also enjoys a minimum check-in baggage allowance of 20kg and a hand carry baggage allowance of 7kg.

Sale of tickets for TransNusaโ€™s scheduled flight are currently priced from IDR1.699.000 onwards, AUD156 onwards, CNY740 onwards, USD110 onwards, and MYR487 onwards. Potential passengers can purchase the tickets at transnusa.co.id or any secure Online Travel Agents (OTAs). For passengers who purchase tickets from OTAs, they can check-in at transnusa.co.id.

TransNusaโ€™s additional scheduled flight, 8B 082 (DPS-PER), will depart at 12.55pm from the I Gusti Ngurah Rai International Airport and arrive at Perth Airport at 16.55pm on July 1 onwards. While TransNusa flight, 8B 083 (PER-DPS), will depart Perth Airport at 18.05pm and arrived at the I Gusti Ngurah Rai International Airport at 21.50pm.

TransNusa will continue to operate its current scheduled flight, 8B 080 (DPS-PER), which departs Bali at 09.10am from I Gusti Ngurah Rai International Airport and arrive the Perth Airport at 12.50pm. The flight, 8B 081 (PER-DPS), will depart Perth Airport at 13.35pm and arrive at I Gusti Ngurah Rai International Airport in Bali on 17.20pm.

TransNusa will be utilising its Airbus A320 that has a seat capacity of 174 for this international route that has a 3 hours and 40 minutes flight duration.

Apart from the Bali-Perth international route, TransNusa also operates scheduled flights from its base in Bali to Guangzhou, China.

Datuk Francis said that TransNusa has the shortest transit time of a maximum of 2 hours between the scheduled arrival of its flights from Perth to Bali and from Bali to Guangzhou.

โ€œFor West Australians looking for a more adventurous vacation, they can spend some time in Bali and jet across to Guangzhou to experience places such as Gulong Gorge skywalk glass bridge,โ€ Datuk Francis added.

On TransNusaโ€™s Premium Service Carrier product offerings, Datuk Bernard stressed that for its international flights, TransNusa not only provide premium services with competitive ticket prices, but the airline also has attractive product bundles called SEAT, SEAT-PLUS and FLEXI-PRO.

โ€œFor the highest package, FLEXI-PRO, we provide more complete services such as free baggage 30kgs, free to choose seats, free food, and drinks, priority at check-in and boarding. In addition, TransNusa also provides its FLEXI-PRO passengers with the ability to be able to change their flight schedule without restrictions and obtain refund when needed.

“We are committed to providing affordable and competitive ticket prices, while still providing premium services to our customers.โ€ concluded Datuk Bernard.

DATUK BERNARD FRANCISโ€ฆ TransNusa to focus on passengersโ€™ needs and comfort

DATUK BERNARD FRANCISโ€ฆ TransNusa to focus on passengersโ€™ needs and comfort

LGG launches CargoLand โ€“ the hub of the future

โ‚ฌ500 million are being invested in an unparalleled cargo infrastructure project at LGG. One that will redefine air cargo handling on all levels โ€“ digital, equipment, scope, size, multimodal, and sustainable. CargoLand, which will be fully completed by 2040, has been meticulously planned as the next generation in cargo hubs, and will position LGG in Europeโ€™s top three cargo airports.

LGG already has all the hallmarks of a leading cargo hub such as 24/7 operations, a strong cargo community, a cargo-first attitude, experienced staff, advanced digital systems, and speed, among other outstanding features. It is currently Europeโ€™s fifth largest cargo airport, and its USPs are about to be further emphasized with the construction of CargoLand, which is due to be completed by 2040. CargoLandโ€™s community, LGG Connect, marks the first step toward a new unity among airport partners, built around the motto: โ€œSupport, Share, Grow.โ€ LGGโ€™s vision is to bring together and facilitate cooperation between all air cargo stakeholders at the airport (airline, handlers, forwarders, logistics service providers, public entities, and LGG). The focus is on continuous and sustainable infrastructure development with the aim of positioning LGG as a cargo airport of international reference and increasing its status to one of the top three cargo airports in Europe.

โ€œWe have considered every detail within the supply chain to ensure that CargoLand delivers the ultimate in infrastructure and digital solutions to enable the smoothest and fastest cargo handling and turnaround times”, says Frederic Brun, Head of Commercial Cargo & Logistics at LGG. “Weโ€™re adding magic to cargo handling with CargoLand and are confident that it will deliver beyond expectations. After all, we are within a one-day truck drive to 75% of European GDP centres, and we will be strengthening our links to rail, road, and sea, maximising on our unique geographical qualities. Seamless multimodal integration will play a major role in CargoLand.โ€

CargoLand will see 90 hectares dedicated to logistics developments, attracting even more major global logistics players than today. 24 hectares are available for office development. Customers will also benefit from a 38,000 mยฒ first line warehouse constructed to support long-term growth. A 120,000 mยฒ, e-commerce and 180,000 mยฒ landside warehouse will complement the set-up, ensuring fast onforwarding for last-mile deliveries, and smooth second-line handling processes. 15 new parking stands are planned for GSE, and an own MRO hangar will also speed up any aircraft checks or services.

โ€œCargoLand is THE place to be, to have your cargo handledโ€ says Torsten Wefers, Vice President Sales & Marketing at LGG. โ€œThat is the vision we have been working towards โ€“ that whenever people need to send freight to and from Europe, LGGโ€™s fully sustainable CargoLand is the first place they think of. From MRO to e-commerce, pharma and perishables, to express cargo, CargoLand offers commodity-specific, tailored cargo processes based on advanced technology, whether it is strong digital tracking of shipments or GSE, optimum route planning, or real-time cargo movement management. CargoLand will deliver a success and customer-oriented commercial approach that will leave a lasting imprint on the European logistics landscape.โ€

If you are visiting the Air Cargo Europe in Munich and want to know more about CargoLand, drop by Booth 109 in Hall 1 on 2 June 2025, for food, drinks, a few surprises, and answers to your questions.

Azul receives Court approvals to move forward with accelerated transformation process for the future, together with its strategic partners

Company operations and sales continue as usual, honoring all tickets, loyalty points, travel packages and Customer benefits

Secures approval to access debtor-in-possession financing to bolster liquidity during restructuring

Reaffirms commitment to safely connecting Brazil with Customer service of excellence  

Azul Brasil (Azul Linhas Aereas Brasileiras) Airbus A320-251N WL PR-YRE (msn 7386) VCP (Rodrigo Cozzato). Image: 938768.
Azul Brasil (Azul Linhas Aereas Brasileiras) Airbus A320-251N WL PR-YRE (msn 7386) VCP (Rodrigo Cozzato). Image: 938768.

SรƒO PAULO, May 30, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — AZUL S.A. (B3: AZUL4; NYSE: AZUL) (“Azul” or “Company”), the largest airline in Brazil by number of flight departures and destinations, announced today that following a successful First Day Hearing, it received interim court approvals for all of its “First Day” motions related to the Company’s voluntary Chapter 11 petitions filed in the United States on May 28, 2025.

Among other relief, the Court granted approval for the Company to immediately access US$250 million of its US$1.6 billion debtor-in-possession (“DIP”) financing. This financing, combined with other Court approvals and revenue generated from Azul’s ongoing operations, will provide sufficient liquidity to support the continued, uninterrupted operations as the Company works to transform its financial future.

“The Court’s approval of all of our first day motions marks a pivotal milestone in positioning Azul for long-term success,” said John Rodgerson, Chief Executive Officer of Azul. “These approvals, along with the strong support of our key financial stakeholders, including United Airlines, American Airlines, and AerCap, enable us to continue our accelerated transformation plan for the future. This process will allow Azul to significantly reduce its leverage and continue to generate cash, putting it on par with its global partners.”

The “Second Day” hearing to consider the Company’s requested relief on a final basis is currently scheduled for July 9, 2025 at 2:00 pm ET.

Screenshot

To Our Readers,

Hawaiian's 2025 "Disney Lilo & Stitch" movie promotional livery (A321 version) (click on comment symbol left for more details)
Hawaiian Airlines Airbus A321-271N WL N216HA (msn 8471) (Disney Lilo & Stitch) LGB (Michael B. Ing). Image: 965902.

Thank you for being part of the WorldAirlineNews.com community. Over the years, your engagement and support have helped us become one of the most trusted sources for global airline industry updates.

We’re excited to share that weโ€™re making significant investments in both the look of the website and the quality and variety of our content. As part of this evolution, weโ€™ll soon be welcoming special guest editors who will contribute fresh, insightful weekly content covering airline strategy, historical fleet trends, policy developments, and more.

With these improvements come new costs. To help fund this growth, we may begin offering advertising space on the website. Our aim is to do this carefully and selectivelyโ€”ensuring ads do not disrupt the reader experience or compromise the integrity of our reporting.

For readers who prefer an ad-free experience, we’re also developing a subscriber-only newsletter and premium portal, where youโ€™ll be able to access exclusive content, early analysis, and a cleaner reading interface.

We’re committed to remaining an independent voice in the aviation spaceโ€”and these changes will help ensure we continue to serve our global readership with greater depth, accuracy, and consistency.

Thank you for your continued support. We look forward to this exciting new chapter and to growing with you.

With appreciation,
The WorldAirlineNews.com Team

Historical Delivery – May 30, 1980 – Braniff International Airways (1st) Boeing 747SP-27 N606BN

Delivered on May 30, 1980
Braniff International Airways (1st) Boeing 747SP-27 N606BN (msn 21992) MIA (Bruce Drum). Image: 102301.

JetBlue and United Announce Blue Sky: Unique Consumer Collaboration That Links Loyalty Programs

MileagePlus customers can earn and use miles on JetBlue including hundreds of flights in and out of New York City and Boston while TrueBlue members can earn and use points on United flights including to popular international destinations like Cape Town and Tahiti

Benefits of each airlineโ€™s loyalty program like priority boarding, complimentary access to preferred and extra legroom seats, and same-day standby/switch will be available across both airlines

Airlines will also offer flights on one anotherโ€™s website and app to make booking simple and easy

JetBlue will provide United access to slots at JFK International Airport for up to seven daily round-trip flights beginning in 2027; JetBlue and United will exchange eight flight timings at Newark Liberty International Airport

United will move some of its holiday and travel services to JetBlueโ€™s Paisly platform

New York and Chicago, May 29, 2025 โ€“ JetBlue (NASDAQ: JBLU) and United (NASDAQ: UAL) today announced Blue Sky: a new and unique collaboration that gives customers of both airlines even more options to find flights that fit their plans as well as new opportunities to earn and use MileagePlusยฎ miles and TrueBlue points across both airlines.

Blue Sky includes the following components, with some starting as early as this fall, subject to regulatory review:

  • Unitedโ€™s MileagePlus customers can earn and use miles on most JetBlue flights. JetBlue offers 90 daily flights between the Northeast and the Caribbean this summer โ€“ with regular nonstop direct flights to popular islands like Aruba, Barbados, and Jamaica. JetBlueโ€™s TrueBlue members can earn and use points for flights on Unitedโ€™s extensive domestic and international network, the largest across the Atlantic and Pacific that includes popular destinations like Cape Town and Tahiti.
  • Each airline will offer flights on one anotherโ€™s website and app to make booking across the two airlinesโ€™ complementary networks simple and easy. Blue Sky includes an interline agreement, not a codeshare, meaning each airline will continue to publish and market flights independently under its own brand and flight numbers.
  • The benefits of each airlineโ€™s loyalty program – priority boarding, complimentary access to preferred and extra legroom seats and same-day standby/switch – will be available when customers travel on the other airlineโ€™s aircraft.
  • As part of the airlinesโ€™ agreement, JetBlue will provide United access to slots at JFK International Airport for up to seven daily round-trip flights out of JFK Terminal 6 to begin as early as 2027. And, as part of a net-neutral exchange, JetBlue and United will exchange eight flight timings at Newark.
  • United will move its website and mobile appโ€™s ability to sell hotels, rental cars, cruises and travel insurance, on both a stand-alone and package basis, to new technology and services provided by JetBlueโ€™s Paisly platform.

โ€œThis collaboration with United is a bold step forward for the industry โ€” one that brings together two customer-focused airlines to deliver more choices for travelers and value across our networks,โ€ said Joanna Geraghty, CEO of JetBlue. โ€œUnitedโ€™s global reach perfectly complements JetBlueโ€™s East Coast leisure network, and significantly expands the options and benefits for TrueBlue members, no matter where in the world they are traveling. This is a clear win for our customers and crewmembers, and supports our JetForward strategy.โ€

โ€œBlue Sky reflects our airlinesโ€™ shared focus on innovation and the customer experience,โ€ said United CEO Scott Kirby. โ€œThe JetBlue brand is tied to a great product and under Joannaโ€™s leadership the airline continues to deliver for customers. Weโ€™re always looking for ways to give our MileagePlus members even more value and benefits and this collaboration gives them new, unique ways to use their hard-earned miles and find options that fit their schedule. Plus, our employees are really excited about Unitedโ€™s return to JFK for the longer-term and weโ€™re all looking forward to starting up flights very soon.โ€

JetBlue and United will continue to manage and price their networks independently, including the launch of new routes, frequencies and promotions.

Two Award-Winning Loyalty Programs

As part of Blue Sky, members of each airlineโ€™s loyalty program will find similar benefits over time – as well as reciprocal revenue-based miles and points accrual and reciprocal miles and points redemption – when they use and earn miles or points on the partner airline.

Timing for reciprocal benefits for customers will be announced later this year. Whether customers are flying on United or JetBlue in the future, they will receive benefits in line with what they receive today, including:

  • Priority treatment for check-in, boarding, security and baggage
  • Access to preferred and extra leg room seats
  • Free first checked bag
  • Same-day changes and switches

This infographic summarizes some of the benefits customers will enjoy over time*. JetBlue and United will share more details about the timing of these features later this year:

TrueBlue, JetBlueโ€™s award-winning loyalty program, is one of the most popular airline loyalty programs in the Northeast, with nearly 3 out of 5 people in New York City and Boston holding TrueBlue membership. This generous program includes the following features:

  • Free to join, free to earn points and with points that never expire โ€“ for all customers;
  • JetBlue allows loyalty members to pool their points into a joint account, bringing family and friends closer with this feature;
  • No blackout dates for award seats โ€“ JetBlue offers last-seat availability with points, even for its Mint premium experience;
  • The ability for customers to unlock benefits after just a few flights with Perks You Pickยฎ

MileagePlus was recently rated the worldโ€™s best airline loyalty program and includes the following features:

  • Free to join, for all customers;
  • Miles never expire;
  • No blackout dates for award seats โ€“ if thereโ€™s a seat open you can buy it with miles;
  • Just about anything you can pay for with cash at United, you can buy with miles (seats, wifi, snacks, etc.);
  • United allows members to pool their miles with family and friends into a joint account;
  • And membership includes free access to Unitedโ€™s new Starlink internet service – in 2024, United signed the industryโ€™s largest agreement of its kind with SpaceX to bring Starlink to its fleet. The onboard internet service features the same high-speed, low-latency internet service in the air that people enjoy on the ground.

MileagePlus members took more than 42 million reward flights between 2020 and 2024; and over the last year, close to 40,000 United seats per day were filled by MileagePlus customers using their miles โ€“ thatโ€™s the same as filling about 128 Boeing 777 aircraft. During last yearโ€™s November and December holidays alone, almost two million MileagePlus customers flew on award tickets.

United Customers Benefit From More Options in Boston & New York

JetBlue offers 90 daily flights between the Northeast and the Caribbean this summer โ€“ with regular nonstop direct flights to popular islands like Aruba, Barbados, and Jamaica. The airline operates approximately 180 daily flights out of JFK and 130 daily flights out of Bostonโ€™s Logan International Airport (BOS), including to sought-after Florida markets like Fort Lauderdale and Orlando. JetBlueโ€™s focus cities also include Fort Lauderdale, where it operates more international flights than any other airline; San Juan, where it is the largest airline; Orlando, and Los Angeles. Additionally, JetBlue flies to 15 destinations that United does not serve including Marthaโ€™s Vineyard, Mass.; Cartagena, Colombia; Kingston, Jamaica; and Ponce, Puerto Rico.

JetBlue Loyalty Members Gain Access to a New World of Flying

United is the worldโ€™s largest airline and its vast network gives TrueBlue members hundreds of additional domestic and international options to use their points – 165 across the U.S., eight in Canada, two in the Caribbean, 31 in Latin America, 27 in Europe, five in Africa, two in the Middle East, 15 in Asia, and 14 in the South Pacific.

Additional Blue Sky Benefits

  • In a move that will make planning and booking travel and holiday packages easier for Unitedโ€™s customers and MileagePlus members, United and JetBlue also announced today that United will move its website and mobile appโ€™s ability to sell hotels, rental cars, cruises and travel insurance to JetBlueโ€™s Paisly platform.

Today, United customers are sent to different services known as United Hotels, United Cars, United Cruises and United Packagesยฎ to book hotels, rental cars, cruises and holiday packages. This move will streamline these services and put them all on united.com and the airlineโ€™s mobile app, powered by the Paisly tech stack, and leveraging Paislyโ€™s proven, human-first model and advanced technology to its leisure travel customers.

Unlike most airline ancillary travel platforms that rely heavily on automation and third-party services, Paisly has invested in developing every part of its service in-house. From hotel contracting and holiday curation to marketing and customer care, Paisly operates a fully integrated white-glove service model with increasing personalized offers and messaging, including customer care, and loyalty earning and redemption. Its standout feature, the “Helpful Humans” โ€“ a dedicated, highly trained customer service team โ€“ sets it apart in an industry known for impersonal, transactional experiences.

  • Additionally, business travelers and their employers will see benefits from the collaboration as well. While United and JetBlue will continue to manage their commercial relationship independently, both airlines may extend the terms of parts of their corporate programs to the flights operated by the other airline. This includes the discounts each airline has independently negotiated.
  • Finally, JetBlue is expected to be the first partner airline to deploy and syndicate the technologyย Kinective MediaSMย by United Airlinesย has built to connect airline customers to personalized, real-time advertising, content, experiences and offers from leading advertising brands. The Kinective Media technology platform, launched in June 2024, is a global first traveler media network that uses insights from travel behaviors to enable marketers to deliver relevant messaging to audiences across various touchpoints in the journey, and beyond. Kinective Mediaโ€™s focus is on premium brand relationships across key verticals such as retail, luxury goods, financial services, automotive, media & entertainment and travel, and the collaboration will bring those capabilities to highly engaged audiences across JetBlueโ€™s digital channels.