JetBlue Airways and EL AL Israel Airlines Announce Interline Agreement to Connect Customers Between U.S. and Israel

NEW YORK, July 22 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- New York's hometown airline JetBlue Airways (Nasdaq: JBLU) and Israel's national airline, EL AL, announced today that they intend to sign an interline agreement, providing new and convenient connecting options for both EL AL and JetBlue customers wishing to travel between the U.S. and Israel.  Beginning in September, customers will be able to purchase a single ticket for travel on flights of both carriers in one simple transaction, and enjoy seamless connecting service to Tel Aviv's Ben Gurion International Airport from most JetBlue cities via New York's John F. Kennedy International Airport.  

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New York's JFK Airport is EL AL's leading gateway into the United States, with as many as three daily flights to/from Tel Aviv, and is also JetBlue's main hub with service to 50+ cities across the United States, Latin America, and the Caribbean. JetBlue is the #1 domestic airline at JFK, carrying more travelers to this key global hub than any other airline.

Customers traveling on the two carriers will enjoy the convenience of purchasing and traveling on a single e-ticket.  In addition, on the day of travel, customers will benefit from simplified one-stop, through check-in and easy connections at JFK Airport. Customers will receive boarding cards for both carriers' flights upon check-in with either JetBlue or EL AL and their baggage will be checked to their final destination.

"The addition of JetBlue as an interline partner allows EL AL to expand its network and offer our passengers from various points in the U.S. easier connections to our flights that operate from JFK," said Offer Gat, EL AL Vice-President for North & Central America.  "This new agreement will further strengthen EL AL's position as the leading airline to Tel Aviv and shows our commitment to this important market for EL AL."  Passengers from cities such as Fort Lauderdale, West Palm Beach, Rochester, Buffalo, Syracuse, Houston, Seattle and a host of other cities will have optimal connections when traveling to Tel Aviv with EL AL and JetBlue.

"We are pleased to be announcing a new interline partnership with EL AL that will give our ever-expanding customer base even more international connecting options," said Robin Hayes, Executive Vice President and Chief Commercial Officer at JetBlue. "We also look forward to introducing EL AL customers to JetBlue's award-winning service from New York, which includes all-leather seats, spacious legroom, unlimited free snacks and most importantly, the friendliest people in the skies."

From New York, EL AL utilizes state-of-the-art Boeing 777 and 747-400 aircraft on all service to Tel Aviv. JetBlue's domestic service is operated by its modern fleet of Airbus A320 and EMBRAER 190 aircraft. All JetBlue aircraft feature personal seatback TVs that include the airline's signature in-flight entertainment that includes 36 channels of free, live DIRECTV programming and more than 100 channels of free XM Satellite Radio.  On flights longer than two hours, a selection of first-run movies and bonus features from JetBlue Features is also available.

About EL AL

Celebrating more than 60 years of service, EL AL, Israel's national airline, offers the most nonstop flights between New York (JFK/Newark) and Israel as well as the only nonstop service from Los Angeles.  Worldwide, EL AL flies to more than 40 destinations from Israel and serves dozens of other destinations throughout the world via partnerships with many other carriers. Only EL AL has First Class service on nonstop flights between the U.S.A. and Israel. The airline has annual revenues of about $1.7 billion and carries more than 1.9 million passengers every year. EL AL. It's not just an airline. It's Israel.

About JetBlue Airways

Voted "Most Eco-Friendly Airline" by Zagat's Airline Survey in 2008 and 2009, New York-based JetBlue Airways has created a new airline category based on value, service and style. In 2010, the carrier also ranked "Highest in Customer Satisfaction Among Low-Cost Carriers in North America" by J.D. Power and Associates, a customer satisfaction recognition received for the sixth year in a row. Known for its award-winning service and free TV as much as its low fares, JetBlue is now pleased to offer customers Lots of Legroom and super-spacious Even More Legroom seats. JetBlue introduced complimentary in-flight e-mail and instant messaging services on aircraft "BetaBlue," a first among U.S. domestic airlines. JetBlue is also America's first and only airline to offer its own Customer Bill of Rights, with meaningful and specific compensation for customers inconvenienced by service disruptions within JetBlue's control. Visit www.jetblue.com/promise for details. JetBlue serves 61 cities with 650 daily flights. New service to Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport in Washington, DC and to Bradley International Airport in Hartford, CT begins in November. With JetBlue, all seats are assigned, all fares are one-way, and an overnight stay is never required. For information or reservations call 1-800-JET-BLUE (1-800-538-2583), TTY/TDD 1-800-336-5530 or visit www.jetblue.com.

SOURCE JetBlue Airways