JetBlue and Emirates to Expand Partnership Agreement with Bilateral Codeshare

NEW YORK and DUBAI, United Arab Emirates, May 14, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- JetBlue Airways (NASDAQ: JBLU), New York's Hometown Airline™, and Emirates, the Dubai-based international carrier and one of the world's fastest growing airlines, today announced intent to expand their current partnership to include bilateral codesharing, pending FAA and DOT regulatory approval and subject to receipt of foreign government operating authority. Under the expanded agreement, JetBlue will place its "B6" airline code on all flights currently operated by Emirates between the U.S. and Dubai International Airport, as well as between New York's John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) and Milan, Italy.

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The agreement deepens a three-year partnership between JetBlue and Emirates. Emirates started placing its code on select JetBlue-operated flights in April 2012, expanding an interline agreement that dates back to 2010. Current codeshare routes offered by Emirates on JetBlue-operated flights cover 28 destinations including Boston, Chicago, Orlando and Puerto Rico. Since March this year, Emirates also began placing its code on additional JetBlue routes, including Bridgetown, Barbados, Cancun, Mexico, Montego Bay, Jamaica and Santo Domingo, Santiago and Punta Cana, Dominican Republic. Through the existing agreement, customers enjoy the convenience of a single combined ticket for Emirates and JetBlue-operated flights, plus other benefits including one-stop check-in and baggage transfer.

Members of Skywards, the Emirates reward program, can earn miles on JetBlue-operated flights and also redeem miles for flights to any of JetBlue's 77 destinations (and counting) throughout the Americas. Similarly, members of JetBlue's TrueBlue loyalty program can earn points for Emirates-operated flights worldwide.

"As Emirates continues to expand its presence in the U.S. market, our partnership offering with JetBlue provides customers with convenient connections from its extensive network to our seven U.S. gateways, including our twice daily A380 service non-stop from JFK to Dubai," said Thierry Antinori, Emirates' Executive Vice President of Passenger Sales Worldwide. "Offering a boost to tourism and added convenience for inbound travellers, the codeshare also gives Emirates' customers a new choice of destinations with the benefit of a single combined ticket."

"Putting our code on another airline is a significant milestone for JetBlue; we're proud to do it with Emirates, a fantastic partner for JetBlue over the past years," said JetBlue's Chief Commercial Officer Robin Hayes. "Emirates' product and network is exceptional and has been providing our customers easy access to all corners of the globe in comfort and style. We trust this expansion will create additional ease of travel for our customers."

Emirates' global network encompasses 133 destinations in 77 countries across six continents and the airline currently operates 56 passenger flights per week between Dubai and the U.S. including flights from Dallas/Fort Worth, Houston, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Seattle, Washington, D.C. and the twice daily A380 service from JFK to Dubai International Airport. , Emirates' extensive network gives travellers in the U.S. access not only to the carrier's home of Dubai, the commercial and tourism hub of the United Arab Emirates and the Gulf region, but also to cities across Africa, India, and throughout Asia Pacific.

From JFK, Emirates offers two daily nonstop flights to its global hub at Dubai International Airport – both aboard its flagship A380 – offering travellers fine dining, personalized service and multi award-winning entertainment options. From Dulles, Emirates offers one daily nonstop flight to Dubai. Winner of over 500 international awards, Emirates' unique service offering includes complimentary chauffeur-driven airport transfers for premium customers, privacy suites in First Class, amongst the most generous baggage allowance in the industry with two pieces of check-in baggage of up to 23kgs each permitted in Economy Class and an inflight entertainment system featuring over 1,400 channels of new release Hollywood movies, TV, music and games. Emirates will further expand at Kennedy International Airport later this year with new daily nonstop service to Milan, Italy, beginning Oct. 1, 2013. 

Known for its award-winning customer service, JetBlue offers transfer customers from Emirates' network of global destinations a premium experience that includes all-leather seating, unlimited free snacks and drinks, plus the most legroom in coach of any U.S. airline (based on average fleet wide seat-pitch). JetBlue operates one of America's youngest airline fleets, with Airbus and EMBRAER aircraft. At JFK Airport, JetBlue operates from its acclaimed 26-gate Terminal 5, while Emirates operates from the adjacent Terminal 4, allowing for fast and easy connections between flights.

Passengers travelling in First Class and Business Class on Emirates-operated flights, as well as Skywards Platinum and Gold members, have access to the Emirates Lounge at JFK which was named one of the Top Airport Lounges in North America by Frommer's Travel Guides in 2011. Premium passengers, including Gold and Platinum Skywards members, will also have access to lounges at the other Emirates gateways, including the dedicated Emirates' lounge in San Francisco.

About Emirates Emirates currently serves 133 cities around the globe with a young and technologically advanced fleet of 198 wide-bodied aircraft that are equipped with industry-leading comforts in the air. Additionally, Emirates has 196 wide-bodied aircraft on order, worth more than US$71 billion, and is the leading customer of the Airbus A380, with 33 in its fleet and 53 on order. Renowned for its excellence in service and innovation, both on board and on the ground, Emirates holds an impressive array of prestigious awards, most recently including Air Transport World's 2011 "Airline of the Year" award and Frommer's selection of the Emirates Lounge at New York's John F. Kennedy International Airport as one of the 2011 "Top Airport Lounges in North America." For more information visit www.emirates.com.

About JetBlue Airways        JetBlue is New York's Hometown Airline™ with other focus cities in Boston, Fort Lauderdale, Los Angeles (Long Beach), San Juan and Orlando. Known for its award-winning service and free inflight entertainment as much as its low fares JetBlue offers the most legroom in coach of any U.S. airline (based on average fleet-wide seat pitch) as well as super-spacious Even More Space seats. 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 77 cities with 800 daily flights and plans to launch service in 2013 to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Worcester, Massachusetts, Medellín, Colombia, and Lima, Peru, subject to receipt of government operating authority. With JetBlue, all seats are assigned, all fares are one-way, and an overnight stay is never required. For information call 1-800-538-2583 (TTY/TDD 1-800-336-5530), or visit www.jetblue.com.

SOURCE JetBlue Airways