United Airlines is set to make a comeback at New York's John F. Kennedy International Airport through a new partnership with JetBlue Airways. This collaboration, dubbed "Blue Sky," was announced on Thursday and aims to enhance travel options for customers of both airlines. Under this agreement, JetBlue customers will be able to earn frequent-flyer miles on United flights, and vice versa. Additionally, travelers with elite status will enjoy reciprocal loyalty benefits, including priority boarding and access to more spacious seating.

The partnership is expected to begin as early as the fall, although specific dates have not been disclosed. Financial details of the deal remain under wraps. JetBlue has expressed the need for such a partnership to better compete against larger airlines, including United and their mutual rival, Delta Air Lines.

United Airlines previously exited JFK in 2015, a move that CEO Scott Kirby later deemed a mistake. He noted that relocating transcontinental flights to Newark allowed American Airlines to capture some corporate clients. United made a brief return to JFK in 2021, but left again in 2022 due to the inability to secure long-term slots at the airport. Kirby has consistently voiced his desire for United to return to JFK, especially as the airline has faced recent challenges with air traffic staffing shortages and congestion at its Newark hub.

The new agreement will allow United to operate up to seven daily round-trip flights from JFK, significantly expanding its presence in the New York City area. However, this operation will still be smaller compared to United's main hub at Newark Liberty International Airport. The JFK flights are anticipated to commence in 2027 at the earliest, although the specific routes have not yet been announced. United's last service from JFK included flights to Los Angeles and San Francisco.

In exchange, JetBlue will gain access to eight flight slots at Newark. The airlines have described this arrangement as a "net neutral exchange," which will allow both carriers to market and sell seats on each other's platforms while maintaining their individual brands.

JetBlue CEO Joanna Geraghty emphasized the significance of this collaboration, stating, "This collaboration with United is a bold step forward for the industry — one that brings together two customer-focused airlines to deliver more choices for travelers and value across our networks."

As part of the Blue Sky initiative, both airlines will also enhance their loyalty programs. United's MileagePlus members will be able to earn and redeem miles on most JetBlue flights, while JetBlue's TrueBlue members will have similar benefits on United flights. This partnership is seen as a strategic move to bolster competitiveness in the airline industry.