Lufthansa AND JetBlue start codeshare

JetBlue Airways and Lufthansa have signed a codeshare agreement under which JetBlue would be allowed to place the Lufthansa code (LH) on JetBlue flights. Initially, the airlines plan to offer connecting service between 12 JetBlue destinations in the U.S. and Puerto Rico and Lufthansa’s network of 180 destinations in Europe, the Middle East, Africa and Asia. The agreement was filed today for authorization from the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT).

Once a statement of authorization is issued by the DOT, Lufthansa and JetBlue plan to offer convenient connections between the airlines’ networks, beginning first with the following U.S. cities:

Austin, Texas
Buffalo, N.Y.
Fort Lauderdale, Fla.
Fort Myers, Fla.
New Orleans
Pittsburgh
Raleigh/Durham, N.C.
Rochester, N.Y.
San Juan, Puerto Rico
Syracuse, N.Y.
Tampa, Fla.
West Palm Beach, Fla.

Customers traveling from these U.S. cities on JetBlue will be able to connect via New York/JFK or Boston onto Lufthansa flights bound for destinations throughout Europe, the Middle East, Africa and Asia.

Both airlines are looking forward to the commencement of codeshare operations, which will allow them to provide their customers with an extended route network and a seamless flight experience. Pending authorization, codeshare flights will be available for sale by early October, and will be bookable on lufthansa.com, via a link on jetblue.com, or through local and online travel agencies.

In January 2008, the two airlines entered into an agreement under which Deutsche Lufthansa AG purchased an ownership interest in JetBlue Airways Corporation.

About JetBlue Airways

New York-based JetBlue Airways has created a new airline category based on value, service and style. In 2009, 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 fifth year in a row. Known for its sincere, personal service and free TV as much as its low fares, JetBlue is now pleased to offer customers Lots of Legroom and super-spacious Even More Legroom seats. JetBlue introduced complimentary in-flight e-mail and instant messaging services on aircraft “BetaBlue,” a first among U.S. domestic airlines. 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 currently serves 56 cities with 650 daily flights from focus cities in Boston, Fort Lauderdale, Los Angeles (Long Beach), New York (JFK), and Orlando.

About Lufthansa

One of the world’s largest airlines, Lufthansa flies to 206 destinations in 78 countries, with hubs in Munich, Frankfurt, and, with its 2005 acquisition of SWISS into its portfolio, Zurich. Together with its partners, Lufthansa serves 915 destinations in 160 countries. An industry innovator, Lufthansa has long been committed to environmental care and sustainability, operating the most technically-advanced and fuel-efficient fleet in the world. Lufthansa will be the largest European operator of the Airbus A380 and is the launch customer for the new Boeing 747-8, the industries’ two most fuel-efficient passenger aircraft.

Lufthansa provides service from 22 North American gateways, including Atlanta; Boston; Calgary; Charlotte; Chicago; Dallas; Denver; Detroit; Houston; Los Angeles; Miami; Montreal; Newark, N.J.; New York; Orlando; Philadelphia; Portland, Ore.; San Francisco; Seattle; Toronto; Vancouver and Washington D.C.