Robert Besser
07 May 2025

LONG ISLAND CITY, New York: JetBlue Airways' plan to strike a domestic partnership with another U.S. airline is drawing sharp resistance from its pilot union, which says the move could significantly alter the airline's future and put pilot jobs at risk.

In a letter to members this week, the head of JetBlue's pilot union said a job protection clause in their current contract bars the company from entering into such a commercial agreement. The letter, reviewed by Reuters, said the union is consulting legal and professional teams to address the perceived threat.

"This is not a company operating with the best interests of its pilots in mind – at all," wrote Wayne Scales, chair of the JetBlue Air Line Pilots Association Master Executive Council.

Reuters exclusively reported that JetBlue is in talks with United Airlines over a partnership to boost customer connectivity and enable shared frequent-flier benefits.

JetBlue, in response to questions, said it remains fully aware of its contractual obligations and will adhere to any applicable terms. United declined to comment. The pilot union also said it had no further remarks.

The potential alliance comes at a challenging time for JetBlue, which has not returned to consistent profitability since the pandemic. Sluggish travel demand—further strained by economic uncertainty tied to President Donald Trump's trade war—has forced the airline to cut capacity and offer early retirements to dozens of pilots in an effort to trim labor costs.

One area of growth has been JetBlue's customer loyalty revenue, which has been strengthened by recent partnerships that expand connectivity. The company is leaning on these alliances to maintain that upward trend.

However, Scales said JetBlue had not consulted the union nor addressed its concerns about the proposed arrangement. The company, meanwhile, said it would inform the union and crewmembers if and when a deal is reached.

Under the existing contract, JetBlue can only enter a code-share or joint venture agreement if it results in increased aircraft utilization and a higher number of active pilots.

On Tuesday, JetBlue told investors it was in talks with a larger domestic airline, with an announcement expected this quarter. Sources familiar with the matter told Reuters that JetBlue and United have yet to finalize terms, and the situation remains fluid.

JetBlue's aircraft utilization slipped to 9.7 hours per day in Q1, down from 10.2 hours a year earlier. The number of active pilots also declined to about 4,800 in April from around 4,950 last year, according to a seniority list seen by Reuters.

"Until we have answers, every pilot at JetBlue has reason to be concerned about what's being negotiated behind closed doors," Scales wrote.