Jetblue Airways And Lufthansa To Offer Seamless Travel Worldwide

JetBlue Airways Corp. and Deutsche Lufthansa AG of Cologne, Germany, said Wednesday they have signed an agreement to share flight codes at Rochester and 11 other JetBlue locations in the United States and Puerto Rico. That means JetBlue will offer Lufthansa’s connecting service to 180 overseas destinations.

The strategic agreement could mean big things for JetBlue, which has become the largest domestic carrier based at John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York City.

And it could mean smoother traveling for people who are used to buying two tickets and making at least two sets of arrangements when they leave Greater Rochester International Airport heading to Europe, Africa or Asia.

Sebastian White, a JetBlue spokesman, said JetBlue will carry the Lufthansa code at 11 U.S. cities and San Juan, Puerto Rico. In addition to Rochester, the cities are Buffalo, Syracuse, Pittsburgh, Austin, Texas, New Orleans, Raleigh-Durham, N.C., and four in Florida — Fort Lauderdale, West Palm Beach, Tampa and Fort Myers.

Customers traveling from these cities on JetBlue will be able to connect via JFK or Boston’s Logan Airport onto Lufthansa flights.

New York City’s three major airports are the No. 1 destination for Rochester fliers and many of them are headed overseas, said David Damelio, executive director of the Rochester airport. But travelers have had to buy secondary tickets when heading to a city such as Paris or Tokyo. Fliers have also had to personally gather their luggage to get it to the international airline before leaving the United States.

The agreement, if approved by the U.S. Department of Transportation, could mean that fliers travel more seamlessly between Rochester and international locales.

“People can buy a single ticket … and pick up their bags in Paris or Rome,” said White.

Jens Bischof, vice president of Lufthansa’s operations in the Americas, said the agreement will allow fliers a range of advantages, from cost savings to the luxury flying that Lufthansa promotes. Bischof and White said the agreement is a rare combination of a low-fare airline and a premium international carrier.

Fliers would be routed to the two German hubs of Lufthansa and then fly out to any worldwide location that the airline serves. It is likely the hub choices will expand to include Switzerland.

Lufthansa, one of the largest airlines in the world, owns a 16 percent share of JetBlue and recently acquired Swissair AG and a controlling interest in Austrian Airlines.

White said more U.S. cities can expect Lufthansa to show up on JetBlue codes as the two carriers expand their partnership. JetBlue currently serves 56 cities with 650 daily flights.

Lufthansa flies to 206 places in 78 countries, with hubs in Munich, Frankfurt and Zurich.