JetBlue and Virgin Atlantic Team Up on Transatlantic Travel

NEW YORK and LONDON, March 22, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- JetBlue Airways (Nasdaq: JBLU), New York's hometown airline, and Virgin Atlantic, the award-winning long-haul airline, today announced the launch of a new transatlantic interline partnership that links the networks of two of aviation's most iconic brands.

Effective today, travellers can connect with ease from London, Glasgow and Manchester on Virgin Atlantic onward to JetBlue's domestic flights serving destinations including Baltimore, Maryland; Charlotte, North Carolina; Chicago, Illinois; San Diego, California; San Juan, Puerto Rico; and Tampa, Florida.

The airlines will interline in the following Virgin Atlantic-operated transatlantic markets that depart from JetBlue's Boston, New York, Washington and Orlando focus cities:

• Boston – London (Heathrow)
• New York (Kennedy) – London (Heathrow)
• Orlando – Glasgow
• Orlando – London (Gatwick)
• Orlando – Manchester
• Washington (Dulles) – London (Heathrow)

"JetBlue is pleased to begin interline service with a transatlantic leader of Virgin Atlantic's caliber," said Scott Resnick, JetBlue's director of airline partnerships. "With its focus on cultivating a distinctive brand and creating a customer experience that travellers prefer, Virgin Atlantic shares a similar philosophy with JetBlue. We look forward to welcoming their customers to the growing JetBlue network and to giving ours more options to the U.K."

Edmond Rose, Director of Commercial and Revenue Planning for Virgin Atlantic said, "We are delighted to begin this interline cooperation with JetBlue. This partnership will offer Virgin Atlantic passengers a streamlined journey between our four U.K. airports and many cities across the U.S. and Puerto Rico, enjoying the highest standards of service throughout their travels."

Under the agreement, travellers will be able to purchase single itineraries combining travel on JetBlue and Virgin Atlantic, bringing new travel options to customers of both airlines. On the day of travel, customers will be afforded the convenience of one-stop ticketing and baggage check-in whether their travel originates with JetBlue or Virgin Atlantic. Customers may purchase JetBlue-Virgin Atlantic travel beginning this week via the GDS, online travel agencies, or through Virgin Atlantic's reservations call center.

About Virgin Atlantic

Since it was founded in 1984, Virgin Atlantic Airways has become Britain's second largest carrier serving the world's major cities. Now based at both London's Gatwick and Heathrow airports, it operates long haul services to 32 destinations world-wide as far apart as Las Vegas, Shanghai and Sydney.  Virgin Atlantic has enjoyed huge popularity, winning top business, consumer and trade awards from around the world. The airline has pioneered a range of innovations setting new standards of service, which its competitors have subsequently sought to follow. Despite Virgin Atlantic's growth the service still remains customer driven with an emphasis on value for money, quality, fun and innovation. Virgin Atlantic currently has a fleet of 37 aircraft which includes thirteen 747s and five A340-300s and 19 A340-600s.

About JetBlue Airways

JetBlue Airways is New York's Hometown Airline with other focus cities in Boston, Los Angeles, and Fort Lauderdale and Orlando, Florida. In 2010, the carrier ranked "Highest in Customer Satisfaction Among Low-Cost Carriers in North America" by J.D. Power and Associates, a customer satisfaction recognition received for the sixth year in a row. Known for its award-winning service and free TV as much as its low fares, JetBlue offers the most legroom in coach of any U.S. airline (based on average fleet-wide seat pitch) and super-spacious Even More Legroom seats. JetBlue is also America's first and only airline to offer its own Customer Bill of Rights, with meaningful and specific compensation for customers inconvenienced by service disruptions within JetBlue's control. Visit www.jetblue.com/promise for details. JetBlue serves 64 cities with 700 daily flights. Later this year JetBlue plans to introduce service to Anchorage, Alaska and Martha's Vineyard, Mass. With JetBlue, all seats are assigned, all fares are one-way, and an overnight stay is never required. For information call +1 800 538 2583 from the U.S.A., +1 801 365 2525 from the U.K., TTY/TDD +1 800 336 5530, or visit www.jetblue.com.

SOURCE JetBlue Airways

WANT YOUR COMPANY'S NEWS FEATURED ON PRNEWSWIRE.COM?

440k+
Newsrooms &
Influencers

9k+
Digital Media
Outlets

270k+
Journalists
Opted In

GET STARTED