Whispers of a new JetBlue merger are getting louder

Sources said that the airline is in talks about a potential partnership with United Airlines.

Apr 30, 2025 - 17:20

While JetBlue Airways (JBLU) once tried to buy Spirit Airlines (SAVE) for $3.6 billion, a federal judge ultimately blocked the efforts in January 2024.

The judge based the ruling on antitrust concerns and the destruction of a competitive market created by the merger of two low-cost airlines, but the decision ultimately led to Spirit having to file for bankruptcy in November 2024.

More than a year later, JetBlue is now reportedly in partnership talks with "big three" carrier United Airlines (UAL) . As three sources with knowledge of the discussions told Reuters, representatives of both airlines have been "negotiating a partnership" — this, in turn, can mean anything from a full merger to collaboration with loyalty programs and certain airport hubs.

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JetBlue has hinted toward a partnership in an earnings call

"If you are a customer in the Northeast and you love JetBlue for leisure, but twice a year you have to go to Omaha or Boise, these are places that you can't earn TrueBlue points on now, and when this partnership goes forward, you will be able to," JetBlue President Marty St. George told investors during an April 29 earnings call, in the airline's biggest hint of a partnership to date.

In the call, JetBlue told investors it expects unit revenue to drop by as much 7.5% in the second quarter to be released in June. While most airlines have struggled with economic uncertainty under the Trump administration, JetBlue has faced particular challenges trying to emerge from the failed Spirit merger.

United, in turn, declined to comment by saying it does not speculate on closed-door discussions but later published a Securities And Exchange Commission (SEC) filing acknowledging "rumors spreading among certain investors."

"It has come to the Company’s attention that there may be rumors spreading among certain of our investors regarding United's involvement in a potential strategic transaction with another airline," the SEC 8-K filing reads. "The Company is not in negotiations or discussions with any other airline regarding a merger, acquisition, or similar strategic transaction and has not been in any recent discussions with any airlines regarding the same."

While in this filing United vehemently denies the possibility of a JetBlue merger, the lack of detail around what a "partnership" would mean and sources' insistence that talks are in the works lead some to continue to believe it might not be off the table.

*United Airlines is the latest to explore a potential partnership with JetBlue Airways.*
Image source: United Airlines

United comes in on failed American Airlines partnership with JetBlue

In 2023, a federal judge had also blocked a merger between JetBlue and American Airlines AAL that it wanted to call Northeast Alliance over antitrust concerns. On April 28, the Fort Worth-based airline filed a lawsuit in the Business Court of Texas in order "to recover money owed to American" over failed discussions.

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"Ultimately, we were unable to agree on a construct that preserved the benefits of the partnership we envisioned, made sense operationally or financially, or was consistent with the travel rewards and co-branded card business objectives that are so important to our strategy and our customers," American Chief Strategy Officer Steve Johnson said in a statement.