dailynewsnblog
Both JetBlue and 
United Airlines have officially denied that there are any merger plans in the works, and the federal government isn’t too keen on it either. However, the recent ‘Blue Sky’ partnership, which integrates booking on both carriers, has fueled speculation. Now, a newly announced increase in flights between two of the biggest hubs operated by each respective airline continues to reinforce that theory.
Beginning May 21, 2026, JetBlue will have twice daily service between New York’s John F Kennedy International Airport (JFK) and 
Houston George Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH). This service will supplement the daily flights between 
Boston Logan International Airport (BOS) and Houston, creating a total of three options every day to get to United’s massive hub at IAH.
Blue Sky: A Growing Partnership
JetBlue’s reintroduction of service to Houston (IAH) and its broader partnership with United are central to its ‘JetForward’ strategy, which focuses on returning to profitability by leveraging high-demand markets and partner networks. In addition to cross-selling flight bookings on each other’s websites, these two carriers have essentially begun operations under the same roof at JFK.
United exited JFK in 2015, but under the Blue Sky agreement, JetBlue has given the legacy carrier access to seven daily round-trip slots into terminal six. This is a prelude to the resumption of full service in 2027 by United Airlines, according to CNBC. JetBlue is trading JFK slots for eight slots at 
Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR), United’s primary New York hub, which strengthens JetBlue’s presence in the constrained yet highly lucrative market.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, reduced traffic into JFK allowed United to gain temporary access, but it was forced to exit in 2022 after it was unable to secure permanent slots. Skift reported this statement by Kirby, who was president of United during the 2015 exit but had risen to CEO by the time it briefly returned to JFK in 2021:
“I wish I could roll back the clock and change the decision. It was the wrong decision.”
JetBlue Branches Out
Houston is often referred to as the ‘Energy Capital of the World’ thanks to the oil and gas industry. More flights give JetBlue a greater opportunity to access high-demand business traffic between two major financial and industrial hubs in America. By offering reciprocal elite perks, like priority boarding, free bags, and extra-legroom seating on United flights, JetBlue can make TrueBlue more attractive to these business travelers.
Since IAH is a massive United hub, JetBlue can feed its passengers into United’s network for connecting flights. JetBlue members gain access to United’s massive global network, including destinations like Japan, Brazil, and Italy. This allows the carrier to offer a true global loyalty program to frequent flyers.
The route is expected to use Airbus A320 aircraft as they are the primary model that the airline deploys on similar missions. These jets feature JetBlue’s signature amenities like free Wi-Fi and seatback entertainment, providing a competitive alternative to legacy carriers on this transcontinental route, which has received widespread favorable reviews from the public and among industry professionals.
Third Time’s A Charm? The Past, Present, And Future Of United Airlines At New York-JFK
The last time United Airlines had flights out of New York-JFK was in 2022.
A Return To The Big Apple
United has maintained a presence at Newark Airport after a Consolidated operations in order to maintain profitability in the area. At the time when it exited in 2015, the iconic carrier was struggling to compete against Delta Air Lines as well as JetBlue. United’s current CEO, Scott Kirby, has publicly called the 2015 exit a strategic mistake that resulted in the loss of lucrative corporate contracts to competitors.
Since that time, United has rebounded and even has the largest Fleet of commercial aircraft in the world, according to data from plane spotters.net. Heavy congestion and air traffic control (ATC) staffing shortages at Newark have frequently crippled United’s operations.
United currently holds a smaller share of the New York market compared to its pre-2015 levels and views a JFK presence as essential for recapturing high-end business travelers. Returning to JFK allows United to diversify its East Coast presence and mitigate these risks.
