JetBlue Airways, New York’s hometown airline, and Virgin Atlantic, the award-winning long-haul airline, today announced the launch of a new transatlantic interline partnership that links the networks of two of aviation’s most iconic brands.

Effective today, travellers can connect with ease from London, Glasgow and Manchester on Virgin Atlantic onward to JetBlue’s domestic flights serving destinations including Baltimore, Maryland; Charlotte, North Carolina; Chicago, Illinois; San Diego, California; San Juan, Puerto Rico; and Tampa, Florida.

The airlines will interline in the following Virgin Atlantic-operated transatlantic markets that depart from JetBlue’s Boston, New York, Washington and Orlando focus cities:

* Boston - London (Heathrow)
* New York (Kennedy) - London (Heathrow)
* Orlando - Glasgow
* Orlando - London (Gatwick)
* Orlando - Manchester
* Washington (Dulles) - London (Heathrow)

“JetBlue is pleased to begin interline service with a transatlantic leader of Virgin Atlantic’s caliber,” said Scott Resnick, JetBlue’s director of airline partnerships. “With its focus on cultivating a distinctive brand and creating a customer experience that travellers prefer, Virgin Atlantic shares a similar philosophy with JetBlue. We look forward to welcoming their customers to the growing JetBlue network and to giving ours more options to the U.K.”

Edmond Rose, Director of Commercial and Revenue Planning for Virgin Atlantic said, “We are delighted to begin this interline cooperation with JetBlue.This partnership will offer Virgin Atlantic passengers a streamlined journey between our four U.K. airports and many cities across the U.S. and Puerto Rico, enjoying the highest standards of service throughout their travels.”

Under the agreement, travellers will be able to purchase single itineraries combining travel on JetBlue and Virgin Atlantic, bringing new travel options to customers of both airlines. On the day of travel, customers will be afforded the convenience of one-stop ticketing and baggage check-in whether their travel originates with JetBlue or Virgin Atlantic. Customers may purchase JetBlue-Virgin Atlantic travel beginning this week via the GDS, online travel agencies, or through Virgin Atlantic’s reservations call center.