Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy, in an appearance on ‘Varney & Co.,’ discusses the rise in flight delays and announces new findings that his predecessor, Pete Buttigieg, cut corners on safety recommendations.
United Airlines and JetBlue’s partnership, known as “Blue Sky,” has been cleared for takeoff following a review by the U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT).
“Blue Sky is a new and unique collaboration designed to give customers of both airlines even more options to find flights that fit their plans as well as new opportunities to earn and use MileagePlus® miles and TrueBlue points across both airlines,” United said in a media release on Tuesday.
The partnership is not a merger of the airlines, but an agreement that will have JetBlue providing United access to slots at the congested JFK International Airport in New York for up to seven daily round-trip flights, set to begin in 2027.
“And, as part of a net-neutral exchange, JetBlue and United will exchange eight flight timings at Newark,” United said in the release.
SPIRIT AIRLINES TO FURLOUGH 270 PILOTS DUE AMID LOWER OFF-SEASON DEMAND
United Airlines airplanes proceed to a runway at Newark Liberty International Airport in front of the skyline of midtown Manhattan and the Empire State Building in New York City on January 27, 2024, in Newark, New Jersey. (Gary Hershorn / Getty Images)
The partnership, announced in May, had been sought after by JetBlue after a federal judge blocked its alliance with American Airlines in 2023, Reuters reported.
“JetBlue and United appreciate Secretary Duffy, Assistant Secretary Edwards, and the entire team at the DOT for their review of Blue Sky,” a media release from JetBlue on Tuesday said.
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A JetBlue plane taxis after landing as a United plane takes off at Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) on Jan. 3, 2025 in Los Angeles, California. (Mario Tama / Getty Images)
“JetBlue and United will share more details in the coming weeks as implementation of the Blue Sky collaboration begins.”
In June, Spirit Airlines urged USDOT to reject the collaboration between the two air carriers, saying it was anticompetitive and would prompt other large carriers to pursue similar deals, according to Reuters.
| Ticker | Security | Last | Change | Change % |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| UAL | UNITED AIRLINES HOLDINGS INC. | 90.65 | -1.78 | -1.93% |
| JBLU | JETBLUE AIRWAYS CORP. | 4.65 | +0.29 | +6.65% |
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USDOT did not immediately respond to a FOX Business request for comment.
Reuters contributed to this report.
