JetBlue Seeks Partnership With British Airways in Bid To Expand Network

JetBlue is pursuing approval from government regulators for a code-sharing agreement with British Airways that would substantially expand the budget carrier’s network.

The proposed pairing between the two airlines includes some 75 U.S. destinations and 17 cities in Europe, CNBC reported.

But before the plan can move forward, the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) must give its approval.

JetBlue has already been making inroads in Europe over the past few years, having added flights to such top cities as Paris, Amsterdam and Dublin. But those offerings cannot compare to some of the industry’s major trans-Atlantic partnerships utilized by carriers like American and Delta.

Code-sharing agreements like the one currently proposed between JetBlue and British Airways, offer another path for carriers to grow their network.

British Airways Airbus A380. (photo via Boarding1Now/iStock Editorial/Getty Images Plus)

“We are always looking for new ways to offer our customers more choice when traveling,” JetBlue said in a statement about the agreement, per CNBC.

If the DOT allows the plan to proceed, it would mean travelers could book a single ticket for a flight itinerary that includes both of the airlines.

British Airways has not commented on the news.

The newly proposed code-sharing plan is JetBlue’s latest effort to expand its network, following a widely publicized federal judge ruling in January against the carrier’s proposed $3.8 billiion merger with Spirit.

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