By Dean Seal

JetBlue is still open to crafting partnerships with other airlines if the right opportunities arise, according to the company's president.

Martin St. George, head of JetBlue's commercial functions, said at a conference Wednesday that the carrier has been talking with multiple airlines to potentially find a new partnership after its previous alliance with American Airlines was struck down in 2023 over anticompetitive concerns.

The federal judge behind the ruling offered JetBlue a road map for what a legally compliant partnership could look like, according to St. George.

"If we find a deal that's accretive, we will absolutely do it," St. George said.

St. George said there is money earmarked in JetBlue's restructuring strategy for a partnership, though the amount is provisional and could change.

"If we reach a deal, if the number changes, we'll guide it when the time comes," St. George said. "But I certainly do think a partnership would be good for JetBlue."

JetBlue teamed up with American Airlines in 2020 to coordinate schedules and sell seats on each others' flights in three New York-area airports and Boston.

The partnership was part of JetBlue's effort to better position itself between ultra-low-cost carriers and premium airlines that cater to business travel. The company also won a bidding war in 2022 to buy discount carrier Spirit Airlines.

JetBlue is now working on a turnaround after federal judges shot down both the American partnership and the Spirit merger following antitrust challenges from the government. The company has exited more than a dozen cities and culled more than 50 routes as it pares back its ambitions.

Write to Dean Seal at dean.seal@wsj.com

(END) Dow Jones Newswires

February 19, 2025 11:00 ET (16:00 GMT)

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