Norwegian Air and JetBlue Sign an Intent for Partnership
Interline agreement will streamline cost-effective flight options between the US and Europe
October 16, 2019
Norwegian Air and JetBlue may be partnering up for an interline agreement. The carriers signed a Letter of Intent this week for a partnership that will allow customers to combine low fares in a convenient, single booking actions that will connect flights between the Americas and Europe. Customers will have the possibility to book connecting flights on both airlines’ websites and combine the best of the complementary connections between the two companies by early Summer 2020 or earlier. Flights will be bookable during the first half of 2020 by travel agents using the GDS booking system.
“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.”
The partnership will connect more than 60 U.S. and nearly 40 Caribbean and Latin American cities to Norwegian’s network via New York-JFK, Boston and Fort Lauderdale airports. Norwegian currently offers more than 20 nonstop routes to Europe from these three airports. Customers will also be able to check in their luggage to their final destination.
Norwegian offers close to 50 nonstop transatlantic routes from the United States and more than 550 routes overall with access to most European destinations via connections within Norwegian’s network at any time of the year. Norwegian has grown fast and is now the largest foreign airline to serve New York City in terms of passenger numbers, according to the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey.
Most recently, Norwegian launched new nonstop service between New York JFK and Athens, Chicago and Barcelona; from Boston to both Madrid and Rome; and to London from both Miami and San Francisco. In late October, the airline will move its service to Barcelona and Paris from Oakland International Airport to San Francisco International Airport. Norwegian is also increasing frequency to its most popular European destinations for the summer 2020 program.