A JetBlue Airways plane passes behind an American Airlines jet waiting for a taxi at Ronald Reagan National Airport in Washington, DC
Anndra Harrer | Bloomberg | Getty Images
American Airlines and JetBlue Airways on Thursday began selling tickets to each other’s airline, launching the partnership the two carriers announced last year.
The companies are moving forward with the agreement as the U.S. Department of Justice and attorneys general in Massachusetts and New York are investigating the connection, according to American Airlines secure filing.
The airlines have agreed to cancel some slots at New York’s John F. Kennedy International Airport and Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport and will stop coordinating some routes, from following an inspection by the Department for Transport.
Under the agreement so far, Fort Worth, Texas and New York – based JetBlue has begun selling sets on nearly 75 routes from New York and Boston, a practice known as code sharing.
The two carriers, which are trying to compete with other carriers in the region such as United Airlines and Delta Air Lines, will combine 33 domestic and international routes.
The airlines plan to expand the partnership to earn and burn benefits for each other’s frequent flight programs.
JetBlue pilots on Tuesday rejected an agreement to give the carrier contract relief to implement the full American Airlines partnership.
“Occupational security, especially in turbulent times in our industry, is a key concern for all pilots,” Captain Chris Kenney, chairman of the Air Line Pilots Association’s JetBlue chapter, said in a statement.
The union has said it wants to work with the airline on a mission.
The Allied Pilots’ Association, which represents American Airlines pilots, said it was reviewing the case and “it would be very unfortunate for us if it is confirmed that American regulation intends to intervene. the coding of routes that violate the contract of another pilot union. “