JetBlue Airways plans to partner with 30 airlines within next few years

JetBlue Airways recently indicated it wants to partner with more airlines in the future. The airline’s plans were revealed by David Barger, CEO of JetBlue Airways, during CAPA’s 'Airlines in Transition CEO Summit'.

While addressing the 'Airlines in Transition CEO Summit', Barger said he hoped to see more JetBlue Airways flights taking to the skies in partnership with more carriers. He expected that the carrier will have 30 airline partners within the next few years.

Currently, JetBlue Airways interlines or has codeshare partnerships with 18 carriers, including 15 foreign carriers, American Airlines, Hawaiian Airlines and small US regional Cape Air.

Barger also made it apparent that JetBlue Airways has no intention whatsoever of joining a global alliance. He said that the airline is rather planning to continue to pursue its “open architecture” strategy towards partnerships in which it seeks to feed foreign carriers serving its New York JFK hub.

According to Barger, JetBlue Airways is presently happily working with airlines from all the three major alliances as well as non-aligned carriers, and that he doesn’t see the benefits in associating with a global airline alliance because it adds cost and complexity. He said that he would restrict JetBlue Airways from working with such a wide group of carriers in the future.