American Airlines (AA) announced two partnerships – one with JetBlue and one with New York City – that will mean better service and increased connections for customers as well as an extra financial boost to the city.
“We are announcing a partnership whereby our two airlines will cooperate in New York and Boston to provide our customers with interline service in non-overlapping markets, which will offer more choices and more convenient connections,” American Airlines CEO Gerard Arpey said on Wednesday, March 31
Arpey was joined by Mayor Michael Bloomberg, JetBlue CEO Dave Barger, Congressmember Gregory Meeks and leaders from the Port Authority of NY & NJ at the American Airlines Theatre in Times Square for the announcement.
Under the partnership with JetBlue, American Airlines customers will soon have access to 18 non-overlapping domestic flight destinations from JFK and Boston’s Logan Airport and JetBlue customers will have easier access to 12 international destinations that American flies. Beginning in June, customers will be able to log onto American Airlines’ web site and book a single itinerary utilizing both of these airlines.
“New York is obviously one of the most important markets to business travelers everywhere, and these schedule enhancements will be able to give our New York customers an unprecedented level of access to top business markets,” Arpey said.
During the announcement, American Airlines also said that it would invest upwards of $30 million at LaGuardia and John F. Kennedy International Airport.
“It is going to invest $30 million in upgrading its terminals at our cities two airports which will help put more new Yorkers to work and pump more money into our economy,” Bloomberg said.
Congressmember Gregory Meeks, who represents areas in southeast Queens where JFK Airport is located, praised the two airlines for their work in the past and remains confident that they will continue to include minority and women-owned businesses in their plans for the future work.
Under the agreement with the city, American Airlines will also give $3.5 million in cash to NYC & Company – the city’s tourism department – and $4.5 million in advertising and promotional support to encourage tourism in the city.
“I think that above all today’s announcement underscores the fact that the world’s biggest and most successful companies are confident in New York City’s future and they show that the best days for our city are yet to come,” Bloomberg said.
