JetBlue, United in Partnership Talks, Report Says

Bill McColl

Wed, Apr 30, 2025, 9:38 AM 2 min read

JetBlue Airways and United Airlines Group are reportedly in negotiations for a partnership deal.
Reuters cited sources who said any agreement wouldn't include coordination on scheduling and pricing, and would allow travelers "to earn and burn frequent-flier miles."
United told Investopedia that it doesn't "comment on industry speculation."

Shares of JetBlue Airways (JBLU) and United Airlines Holdings (UAL) fell Wednesday on indications the two carriers are in negotiations on forming a partnership.

JetBlue has been seeking to join up with another airline since 2023 after a judge agreed with the Department of Justice that the carrier needed to end its Northeast Alliance with American Airlines Group (AAL) because it would lead to higher prices for consumers. It tried to merge with Spirit Airlines but the companies called off the deal last year after regulators ruled it was anticompetitive.

Citing "three industry sources familiar with the matter," Reuters reported Tuesday night that any deal between JetBlue and United would be different from the Northeast Alliance because the two wouldn't coordinate on scheduling and pricing. It would allow travelers "to earn and burn frequent-flier miles."

JetBlue President Says Carrier Close to Making Announcement

The report came hours after JetBlue president Marty St. George said during the company's earnings call Tuesday that "I think we're getting very close to making announcement, expect to be making announcement this quarter," according to a transcript provided by AlphaSense.

St. George added that "as far as the benefits that we expect to offer to our customers, the most important thing is ... a significantly higher network opportunity for earn and burn of TrueBlue points, which we think greatly improves the utility of TrueBlue."

United told Investopedia that it doesn't "comment on industry speculation."

Shares of JetBlue Airways fell 3% and those of United Airlines Holdings declined more than 2% in late-morning trading Wednesday. They are down nearly 50% and 30%, respectively, this year.