American and JetBlue show new flights from New York and Boston

American Airlines Y JetBlue Airways announced the first phase of their partnership with the initiation of 33 new routes and 80 code shares from New York and Boston. The announcement was made despite the fact that the JetBlue pilots union opposed the agreement with the company over a 10-year contract clause in exchange for a current increase in pay and additional protections.

However, American and JetBlue continue with the plan called ‘Northeast Alliance’ and announced the alignment of their networks to start their partnership. The first codeshare will begin on February 25, just six weeks after the US Department of Transportation gave the deal the green light.

Initially, the JetBlue code will be put on 25 American routes, and the American code on 49 Jet Blue routes, which are basically point-to-point domestic routes. The airlines said that more Northeast markets will be integrated including connections operated by a mix of flights from both companies, through Boston and New York, which will be added throughout the first half of the year.

The airlines will also introduce 33 new routes in the first phase of the alliance, which they called the first step to offer the best proposal to customers with the largest network from New York and Boston. American will open 18 new routes including six international flights to cities in the Caribbean and South America starting May 6, from New York’s John F. Kennedy Airport (JFK), to Cali, Bogotá and Medellín, in Colombia, with daily flights to operated with Airbus A319. A flight to Santiago de Chile is also added 3 times a week on Boeing 777-200, hoping it will be daily from November; and American will fly weekly services to St. Lucia and Providenciales Airport in Turks and Caicos, with Boeing 737-800.

The other 12 routes that will be launched by American are domestic, mainly to tourist markets. They include seasonal flights from Boston to Asheville, Jackson Hole, Traverse City, Wilmington and Columbus. Kansas City, Key West, Myrtle Beach, Pensacola, Rapid City and Savannah from New York LaGuardia Airport (LGA). And direct flight to Orange County, California, from Kennedy Airport.

For its part, JetBlue will launch 15 new routes including two new cities designed to diversify its growth and presence in the western US Temporary services for the summer are to Glacier Park International in Montana, and Boise, Idaho, from JFK. The other additions include 10 new routes from Newark (EWR) including Antigua, Aguadilla, Cartagena, Port-au-Prince, Martha’s Vineyard, Nantucket, Puerto Plata, Seattle, Saint Lucia and St. Thomas; and from LaGuardia to Charleston, Denver and Martha’s Vineyard. All flights will use Airbus A320 except from Newark to Nantucket and Martha’s Vineyard which will be on Embraer 190.

The airlines added that their alliance opens up new growth opportunities for both, with better utilization of their current slots and gates in congested Northeast airports, while offering a smooth travel experience. Passengers will benefit from aligned itineraries in Boston and New York that will allow for better schedules and frequencies on each airline.

Starting in April, the two will offer 14 daily flights between New York and Los Angeles, as well as 9 daily flights between New York and Boston. The market between New York and South Florida will have 47 daily services.