Emirates, JetBlue to expand partnership

Emirates, and JetBlue Airways today announced their intent to expand their current partnership to include bilateral code-sharing, pending FAA and DoT regulatory approval and subject to receipt of relevant foreign government operating authority.

Under the expanded agreement, JetBlue will place its "B6" airline code on all flights currently operated by Emirates between the U.S. and Dubai International Airport, as well as between New York’s John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) and Milan, Italy.

The agreement strengthens the three-year partnership between JetBlue and Emirates, which started placing its code on select JetBlue operated flights in April 2012, expanding an agreement that dates back to 2010. Current code-share routes offered by Emirates on JetBlue flights cover 28 destinations, including Boston, Chicago, Orlando and Puerto Rico. Since March this year, Emirates also began placing its code on additional JetBlue routes, including Bridgetown, Barbados, Cancun, Mexico, Montego Bay, Jamaica and Santo Domingo, Santiago and Punta Cana in the Dominican Republic. Through the existing agreement, customers enjoy the convenience of a single combined ticket for Emirates and JetBlue-operated flights, plus other benefits including one-stop check-in and baggage transfer.

Members of "Skywards", the Emirates reward program, can earn miles on JetBlue operated flights and redeem miles for flights to any of JetBlue’s 77 destinations throughout the Americas. Similarly, members of JetBlue’s "TrueBlue" loyalty program can earn points for Emirates flights worldwide.

"As Emirates continues to expand its presence in the U.S. market, our partnership offering with JetBlue provides customers with convenient connections from its extensive network to our seven U.S. gateways, including our twice daily A380 service non-stop from JFK to Dubai," said Thierry Antinori, Emirates’ Executive Vice President of Passenger Sales Worldwide.

"Putting our code on another airline is a significant milestone for JetBlue. We are proud to do it with Emirates, a fantastic partner for JetBlue over the past years," said JetBlue’s Chief Commercial Officer, Robin Hayes.

Increasing Colombo frequency

Emirates, one of the world’s fastest growing airlines, will increase capacity on its services to Colombo from June 30, 2013, with the addition of three more flights per week, the airline announced today.

The addition of three more services, which will operate between Dubai and Colombo on Mondays, Thursdays and Sundays, will increase the number of flights between the two cities to four each day on those days, and take the total number of weekly Emirates flights serving Colombo to 31.

The additional Dubai – Colombo flight EK 654 will depart Dubai at 0645 hrs and arrive in Colombo at 1245 hrs. The return flight, EK 655 will depart Colombo at 1410 hrs and arrive in Dubai at 1655 hrs.

“This increase in capacity to Colombo demonstrates Emirates’ continuing commitment to the destination” said Chandana de Silva, Emirates’ Area Manager for Sri Lanka and Maldives.

“The demand for seats to Colombo is increasing, and these additional flights will enable more people to visit the city whether to visit friends and family, for leisure or on business.”

The three new flights will be operated with Boeing 777-300ER aircraft in two class configuration, adding 126 Business Class and 1,158 Economy Class seats each way per week on the route, as well as 23 tonnes of additional capacity for cargo per flight.

Both cabins are equipped with Emirates’ award-winning ice entertainment system with up to 1,400 channels on-demand entertainment to choose from, including movies, television programmes, games, audio books and music from across the world.

As with all Emirates flights, passengers on the new Dubai - Colombo services will enjoy the extra generous Emirates baggage allowance of 30kg in Economy Class and 40 kg in Business Class. The additional services also provide more opportunities for members of Skywards, the award-winning frequent flyer programme of Emirates Airline, to earn Skywards Miles on their travel.

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