American Airlines and JetBlue Team Up in the Northeast (Again)

A decade ago this week, JetBlue Airways (NASDAQ: JBLU) and pre-merger American Airlines (NASDAQ: AAL) announced a partnership to bolster their market positions in New York and Boston. An interline agreement enabled customers to book tickets connecting between various domestic markets served by JetBlue to more than a dozen of American's international routes. The airlines also implemented a limited degree of frequent-flyer reciprocity.

That partnership fell apart in less than four years. American Airlines merged with US Airways, which had a massive presence on the East Coast, making the JetBlue relationship seem less vital. Meanwhile, JetBlue announced in the summer of 2013 that it would start offering lie-flat seats on flights from New York to Los Angeles and San Francisco, encroaching on a lucrative premium market where American was a major player.

Now, with the COVID-19 crisis upending the airline industry, American and JetBlue have decided to form a new partnership, again focused on the New York and Boston markets. Will the second time be the charm? Let's take a look.

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Source Fool.com