Emirates, JetBlue sever ties ahead of expected United partnership
Emirates and JetBlue are ending their codeshare partnership on Oct. 30.
The news comes as Emirates and United Airlines are widely expected to announce a codeshare partnership at an event in Washington on Sept. 14.
In a statement, JetBlue confirmed the news, which first appeared on Emirates' website.
"JetBlue is ending its codeshare partnership with Emirates effective October 30, 2022 and customers will no longer be able to purchase itineraries with Emirates-operated flights through JetBlue booking channels," the airline said. "JetBlue customers with existing bookings which include an Emirates-operated segment will not see any changes to their itineraries, however travelers will not accrue TrueBlue points on Emirates-operated flights on or after October 30."
Emirates likewise confirmed the news.
"Emirates is ending its codeshare partnership with JetBlue effective October 30, 2022 and customers will no longer be able to purchase itineraries with JetBlue-operated flights through Emirates booking channels," an Emirates spokesperson told TPG. "Skywards members can visit our website to learn more."
The Emirates codeshare is particularly lucrative for JetBlue, because it allows U.S. government employees to book flights on the Gulf carrier. Government employees are generally restricted to booking tickets through U.S. carriers, but the codeshare has been a conduit to allow for government employee travel on Emirates as long as the flight is booked with a JetBlue ticket number.
On its website, Emirates said that passengers can still accrue Skywards miles on JetBlue flights through Oct. 29.
United and Emirates promise a big partnership that represents a significant thawing of relations between a major U.S. carrier and a Middle Eastern carrier -- something unthinkable just a few years ago.
JetBlue and Emirates first launched their partnership in 2012.
United declined to comment.