So, No Deal After All…
Well, folks, looks like the on-again, off-again romance between American Airlines and JetBlue is officially off. American Airlines announced today that the partnership talks have hit a brick wall, and get this, they’re now suing JetBlue! I mean, seriously, talk about a messy breakup. According to Axios, American said they made a “very attractive proposition,” but JetBlue just wasn’t feeling it. Ouch!
What Went Wrong?
Apparently, it came down to different priorities. As American’s Steve Johnson put it, they “were unable to agree on a construct” that made sense for everyone, especially their travel rewards and credit card biz. Which, let’s be real, is where they make a ton of money. It sounds like they just couldn’t find a way to make it work for both sides, you know?
And, oh yeah, this basically means the old Northeast Alliance thing is totally dead too. Remember that? Seems like a lifetime ago, doesn’t it?
Lawsuit Incoming!
But here’s the kicker: American’s not just walking away, they’re lawyering up. They’ve filed a lawsuit in Texas to “recover money owed” from the old partnership. We don’t know exactly how much or what the claims are, but you just know it’s gonna be a long, drawn-out legal battle.
What’s Next?
Honestly, who knows? It’s probably back to business as usual, with American and JetBlue competing like crazy. And you can bet their lawyers are gonna be busy for a while. One thing’s for sure, the airline industry never has a dull moment, does it?