Airplanes, United Airlines and JetBlue study the agreement. The US giant wants to return to the « JFK » with 20 pairs of slots. The advantages for Ita Airways
The negotiations between one of the main carriers in the world and the US low cost (which also has the business class). United, who only flies to Newark and Laguardia, has not been operating in the main stop in New York for some time
United Airlines, one of the largest airlines in the world and historic ally of Lufthansa (and soon of Ita Airways), aims at low cost Jetblue to attempt the assault on Delta Air Lines in one of its main hubs, the « Jfk » airport in New York. The chicago carrier – who flies to Newark, the airport on the other side of the Hudson river, in New Jersey – studies several options ranging from the commercial alliance to the acquisition. United wants to return to operate as soon as possible to the « JFK » by detecting 20 pairs of slots from JetBlue (for 40 flights per day, between departures and arrivals) and the use of 2 boarding gates. This is what they explain to Courier Four US sources aware of the internal discussions.
The options on the table
The sources point out that a decision has not yet been made and that at the moment the idea of a three -step agreement prevails: first the simple commercial alliance (as reported by the agency Reuters) – faster to authorize by the regulatory authorities -, then a strategic pact, then the acquisition to the right conditions. A passage, the last, that the United leaders would like to « coordinate » with the Trump administration in some way not to slam against the stakes of the Antitrust or the US Department of Justice. According to the first assessments, the overlapping routes between the two carriers would be « not problematic ».
Reactions
Contacted of the Courier A spokesman for United replies that Aviolinea « does not comment on speculations ». While no answer came from JetBlue. In the call on the results of the first quarter of this year, President Marty St. George said – without providing further details – that the company is negotiating with a « domestic carrier with a wider network » and that an announcement was expected in the second quarter. According to the sources, the discussions between the two realities entered the heart between the end of February and the beginning of March.
Compared
From a financial point of view, sources continue, even the acquisition would not be problematic for United. The low cost has a market capitalization of 1.3 billion euros, United of approximately 20 billion (on April 29, 2025). JetBlue ended 2024 with 9.28 billion dollars of revenues and a net loss of 795 million. On the contrary, United against a turnover of 57 billion recorded a net profit of 3.15 billion.
Market consolidation
The rumors about a possible understanding have been traveling for a few weeks. They were thus insistent that United, which is listed, has been forced to deny that it is in negotiations « about a merger or acquisition ». But he did not deny that the dossier is on Scott Kirby’s table, United CEO. That, shortly after, in confirming that the sector will proceed with further consolidation, added « Jetblue is the most obvious candidate » and that « the ball is in the field » of the low cost. In the discussions on the sidelines of the big events Kirby has never hidden his disappointment on the abandonment of the « JFK ».
The pull and give up to the « JFK »
United left the terminals located in Queens a first time in 2015 to concentrate better on his main hub on the Atlantic: Newark. He then returned to the main New York airport in February 2021 using the slots temporarily released after other carriers stopped flying due to pandemic. But on that occasion only two connections made: with San Francisco and Los Angeles. So he abandoned every return in force. But now that it wants the slots cannot get them because the airport is saturated.
The operations of Ita Airways
In 2025, according to the data provided by Cirium, Delta has just under 30% of the places offered, JetBlue 24.5% and American Airlines 12%. The move could also have repercussions on the operations of Ita Airways. The Italian carrier – who from January sees the presence of Lufthansa at 41% – at the beginning of 2026 will enter Star Alliance (where there are United and Lufthansa) and in the same year he should have the green light at the entrance to A ++, the Joint Venture transatlantic that United and Lufthansa have with Air Canada. Ita at the moment flies only to the « JFK » and the presence of United-JetBlue would allow continuations to other US cities.
The dispute with American Airlines
United for some time has also tried to expand his presence in Florida and JetBlue, report the professionals, has an Hub in Fort Lauderdale. The rumors of an agreement returned immediately after American Airlines announced, on Monday 28 April, the definitive interruption of the negotiations for a new partnership with JetBlue after the previous one had been rejected by the US Department of Justice during the Biden Presidency. American also started a legal dispute to ask for damage to low cost.
