New York’s hometown airline JetBlue Airways (Nasdaq: JBLU) and Israel’s national airline, EL AL, announced today that they intend to sign an interline agreement, providing new and convenient connecting options for both EL AL and JetBlue customers wishing to travel between the U.S. and Israel.  Beginning in September, customers will be able to purchase a single ticket for travel on flights of both carriers in one simple transaction, and enjoy seamless connecting service to Tel Aviv’s Ben Gurion International Airport from most JetBlue cities via New York’s John F. Kennedy International Airport. 

New York’s JFK Airport is EL AL’s leading gateway into the United States, with as many as three daily flights to/from Tel Aviv, and is also JetBlue’s main hub with service to 50+ cities across the United States, Latin America, and the Caribbean. JetBlue is the #1 domestic airline at JFK, carrying more travelers to this key global hub than any other airline.

Customers traveling on the two carriers will enjoy the convenience of purchasing and traveling on a single e-ticket.  In addition, on the day of travel, customers will benefit from simplified one-stop, through check-in and easy connections at JFK Airport. Customers will receive boarding cards for both carriers’ flights upon check-in with either JetBlue or EL AL and their baggage will be checked to their final destination.

“The addition of JetBlue as an interline partner allows EL AL to expand its network and offer our passengers from various points in the U.S. easier connections to our flights that operate from JFK,” said Offer Gat, EL AL Vice-President for North & Central America.  “This new agreement will further strengthen EL AL’s position as the leading airline to Tel Aviv and shows our commitment to this important market for EL AL.”  Passengers from cities such as Fort Lauderdale, West Palm Beach, Rochester, Buffalo, Syracuse, Houston, Seattle and a host of other cities will have optimal connections when traveling to Tel Aviv with EL AL and JetBlue.

“We are pleased to be announcing a new interline partnership with EL AL that will give our ever-expanding customer base even more international connecting options,” said Robin Hayes, Executive Vice President and Chief Commercial Officer at JetBlue. “We also look forward to introducing EL AL customers to JetBlue’s award-winning service from New York, which includes all-leather seats, spacious legroom, unlimited free snacks and most importantly, the friendliest people in the skies.”

From New York, EL AL utilizes state-of-the-art Boeing 777 and 747-400 aircraft on all service to Tel Aviv. JetBlue’s domestic service is operated by its modern fleet of Airbus A320 and EMBRAER 190 aircraft. All JetBlue aircraft feature personal seatback TVs that include the airline’s signature in-flight entertainment that includes 36 channels of free, live DIRECTV programming and more than 100 channels of free XM Satellite Radio.  On flights longer than two hours, a selection of first-run movies and bonus features from JetBlue Features is also available.

(Source: PR Newswire)