JetBlue, Etihad team up

JetBlue Airways and Etihad Airways have announced plans to begin codeshare operations.

The agreement, which is subject to government approval, will see Etihad Airways place its “EY” code on JetBlue-operated flights, initially facilitating connections between the two airlines at New York’s John F. Kennedy International Airport and Washington’s Dulles International Airport.

In the first stage of the partnership, Etihad will codeshare on 40 JetBlue routes within the US. Further codeshare services are planned on JetBlue flights once Etihad commences daily flights to Los Angeles in June. Subject to US and foreign government approval, Etihad Airways also plans to codeshare on JetBlue flights between New York and select destinations in the Dominican Republic, Jamaica and Colombia.

James Hogan, Etihad Airways’ president and CEO, said, “The US is a major and growing market for Etihad Airways and this partnership with JetBlue will enable us to offer our guests more options for travel within and beyond the US. In addition to New York and Washington, we also fly daily to Chicago. Just last week, we also announced a second daily flight between our hub, Abu Dhabi, and New York City, and we will start flights to Los Angeles and Dallas-Fort Worth in June and December this year.”

Customers transferring in New York or Washington to JetBlue will enjoy the airline’s signature in-flight experience with unlimited free snacks and non-alcoholic drinks plus the most legroom in economy class (based on average fleet-wide seat pitch) and a variety of seatback TV and entertainment options. Later this year, JetBlue will debut Mint, the carrier’s new premium offering, featuring lie-flat beds in domestic business class and private suites on the New York-Los Angeles and New York-San Francisco routes.

(http://www.JetBlue.com , http://www.etihad.com)