Talks of a revived Northeast Alliance between American Airways and JetBlue seem to have fallen aside, and now, American is suing its former airline companion.
After months of hypothesis a couple of potential reunion between the 2 airways, American executives on Monday night time confirmed the Fort Price, Texas-based provider had, in actual fact, been exploring a renewed partnership with JetBlue, which it teamed up with within the now-defunct Northeast-based partnership between 2020 and 2024.
However these discussions, American mentioned, didn’t result in a brand new deal.
“Though we proposed a really enticing proposition to JetBlue and its clients and staff, it grew to become clear over time that JetBlue was targeted on totally different enterprise priorities,” wrote Steve Johnson, American’s vice chair and chief technique officer.
No encore for AAdvantage-TrueBlue tie-up
The Northeast Alliance between American and JetBlue noticed the 2 carriers be part of forces at 4 main northeast airports within the New York Metropolis and Boston metropolitan areas, coordinating on schedules and sharing income.
The airways noticed the association as a option to higher compete with Delta Air Strains and United Airways, two carriers that each maintain sturdy positions within the New York area and all through the Northeast.
Frequent flyers of the 2 airways probably bear in mind the reciprocal loyalty advantages most. Via the partnership, American Airways AAdvantage and JetBlue TrueBlue members might earn and redeem factors on the other provider and make the most of elite standing perks no matter which airline they have been flying on.
A federal choose in 2023 struck down the deep partnership, although, after the Biden administration challenged the deal on antitrust grounds.
However final fall, American and JetBlue appeared to sign that they could be open to some form of new association below a framework the choose mentioned would have been legally acceptable.
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It now seems that will not occur … and the top of renewed alliance talks between the 2 airways is not taking place quietly, both.
American sues JetBlue
American on Monday filed a federal lawsuit in Texas towards JetBlue, searching for greater than $1 million from the New York-based provider that is owed, American mentioned, following the unwinding of the previous alliance.
In keeping with Johnson, American had paused efforts to gather the cash whereas the 2 airways mentioned reviving the partnership.
JetBlue: New partnership coming quickly
In a press release to TPG, JetBlue declined to touch upon the pending litigation, however the provider reiterated its curiosity in partnering with one other airline — and appeared to tease a brand new settlement coming between now and the top of June.
“We have mentioned we’re speaking to a number of airways a couple of new partnership,” a spokesperson for JetBlue informed TPG. “We’ve got been making good progress and count on to announce a partnership settlement within the second quarter.”
Talking on the corporate’s first-quarter earnings name Tuesday, JetBlue CEO Joanna Geraghty described the litigation as “not an sudden flip,” however declined to say extra.
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