JetBlue and Norwegian are looking to sign an interline agreement, the two sides said this week.
The two fast-growing carriers have signed a letter of intent for an interline agreement, which would let travelers combine flights between Europe and the Americas into one ticket.
The partnership is planned to launch in the early summer of 2020, according to a statement from Norwegian.
The move could have a wide-ranging impact on the Caribbean, opening up Norwegian’s vast European network with JetBlue’s large network in the Caribbean.
“We are very excited to partner with JetBlue as this will make international travel even smoother and more available for our customers. JetBlue is the largest airline at several of our key gateways in the United States, specifically New York JFK, Boston and Fort Lauderdale, and this partnership will create a plethora of new route connections for customers on both sides of the Atlantic,” said Norwegian’s Acting CEO and Chief Financial Officer, Geir Karlsen. “The partnership will provide travelers throughout the U.S., Caribbean and Latin America with more affordable fares to Europe and vice versa.”
In all, the partnership would connect more than 60 U.S. cities and nearly 40 cities in the Caribbean and Latin America with Norwegian’s network.
“This new agreement with Norwegian seamlessly connects JetBlue’s robust network throughout the U.S., Caribbean and Latin America with the exciting European destinations on our new partner’s route map,” said Robin Hayes, Chief Executive Officer of JetBlue. “Norwegian shares our belief that customers benefit when we can bring competition and low fares to the transatlantic market currently dominated by joint ventures, legacy alliances and sky-high ticket prices.”
Norwegian had been operating a number of Caribbean flights of its own in recent years, particularly to the French Caribbean destinations of Martinique and Guadeloupe, but last year discontinued them.
— CJ