By Doyinsola Oladipo
NEW YORK (REUTERS) – Jetblue Airways said on Wednesday that it is still in conversation with several airlines to set up a partnership and is willing to assign more funds to close a deal.
In November, the 1st US Circuit Court of Appeals, based in Boston, chose the side of the US Department of Justice when blocking the “Northeast Alliance” of the Jetblue and American Airlines, which could have coordinated the two carriers and polar income.
“If I look at the benefits we have received from the partnership we had, I think that is something that is attractive to us,” Jetblue President Martin St. George told the audience on the Barclays 42nd annual Industrial Select Conference in Miami, Florida.
The biggest advantage of a partnership would improve the usefulness of the company’s loyalty points for customers who follow several competitors, he said.
“If we find a deal that took, we will absolutely do it,” said St. George, adding that the company is looking forward to having the Northeast Alliance “play in the original design.”
The Ministry of Justice under the Biden administration argued that the Alliance would harm consumers and said that the partnership eliminated the incentives for American to lower the prices to attract customers from Jetblue, a historically disturbing rival with often lower rates.
St. George said there is money in the Jetforward plan that has been assigned for partnership, but said that if the number had to change, the company would offer a guide, adding that a financier would be good for the airline.
The company said that the Jetforward initiatives include priorities to improve the reliability, network, product and financial future of the company, aimed at $ 800 million to $ 900 million for incremental EBIT until 2027.
(Reporting by Doyinsola Oladipo in New York; Edit by Alison Williams)