Norwegian and JetBlue have signed a letter of intent firming up an interline agreement between the two carriers, which they plan to launch “in early summer 2020”.
The partnership will allow customers to combine fares into a single booking on connecting flights between Europe and the Americas, with baggage checked through to their final destination, and take advantage of both carriers’ route networks.
Interline flights will be bookable during the first half of 2020 through both airlines’ websites, as well as by travel agents via the GDS.
It follows New York-based JetBlue’s commitment earlier this year to launching transatlantic services to at least one as yet unnamed London airport.
The partnership will connect more than 60 US and nearly 40 Caribbean and Latin American destinations to Norwegian’s network via New York-JFK, Boston and Fort Lauderdale airports, from which it currently offers more than 20 non-stop routes to Europe.
Norwegian chief financial officer and acting chief executive Geir Karlsen said the partnership would open up smooth international travel to more 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 Karlsen.
JetBlue chief executive Robin Hayes added: “This new agreement with Norwegian seamlessly connects JetBlue’s robust network throughout the US, Caribbean and Latin America with the exciting European destinations on our new partner’s route map.
“Norwegian shares our belief 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.”