JetBlue CEO: ‘We're Playing It Safe’ With United After DOJ Frustrations

JetBlue's partnership with United is about building resilience in a market that isn’t getting any easier for smaller carriers.

JetBlue’s partnership with United Airlines didn't come as a surprise, but it's still a big deal. Not because it signals a merger — CEO Joanna Geraghty was clear it doesn’t — but because of what it could mean for the way mid-sized carriers operate in a market dominated by the Big Four.

Last week, JetBlue announced a multi-part agreement with United that includes interline cooperation, a frequent flyer program tie-up, slot transfers at JFK, and the adoption of JetBlue’s ancillary revenue platform by United.

In a conversation at the CEO roundtable at the IATA AGM on Monday, Geraghty helped unpack what this deal actually is, and what it definitely is not.

When asked if the deal with United is the start of a path towards a merger, Geraghty shut the door on any speculation. “No,” she said simply. “We’ve spent a lot of time with the Department of Justice over the last five years and we’re playing it sa