Tue Feb 6, 2007 10:42 AM ET
(Adds details, background)
DUBLIN, Feb 6 (Reuters) - Ireland's Aer Lingus <AERL.I> said it planned to form a strategic alliance with U.S. airline JetBlue <JBLU.O>, which it said would be the world's first tie-up between two international low-cost carriers.
"The partnership will significantly extend Aer Lingus' reach into North America," the Dublin-based airline said in a statement on Tuesday. "Customers will now be able to make just one booking, which will allow them to travel from Ireland to the U.S. and onto a direct Jet Blue flight to 51 destinations."
Those destinations are across the United States, Mexico and the Caribbean, Ireland's former state-owned carrier added.
Aer Lingus, which transformed into a no-frills airline in order to compete with bigger Irish rival Ryanair <RYA.I>, said the partnership would allow Irish and U.S. travellers to book seats between Ireland and the 51 destinations in one go.
Aer Lingus Chief Executive Dermot Mannion, who has been fighting a takeover bid by Ryanair since his airline's privatisation and stock market debut last October, said the tie-up was a significant development for both carriers.
"It changes the face of access to North America for the Irish travelling public," he said.
"It will also expose millions of U.S. passengers to the Aer Lingus Web site and brand and further consolidate aerlingus.com as the premier way to book flights to Ireland from North America."
The alliance is due to become operational in late summer.
(Adds details, background)
DUBLIN, Feb 6 (Reuters) - Ireland's Aer Lingus <AERL.I> said it planned to form a strategic alliance with U.S. airline JetBlue <JBLU.O>, which it said would be the world's first tie-up between two international low-cost carriers.
"The partnership will significantly extend Aer Lingus' reach into North America," the Dublin-based airline said in a statement on Tuesday. "Customers will now be able to make just one booking, which will allow them to travel from Ireland to the U.S. and onto a direct Jet Blue flight to 51 destinations."
Those destinations are across the United States, Mexico and the Caribbean, Ireland's former state-owned carrier added.
Aer Lingus, which transformed into a no-frills airline in order to compete with bigger Irish rival Ryanair <RYA.I>, said the partnership would allow Irish and U.S. travellers to book seats between Ireland and the 51 destinations in one go.
Aer Lingus Chief Executive Dermot Mannion, who has been fighting a takeover bid by Ryanair since his airline's privatisation and stock market debut last October, said the tie-up was a significant development for both carriers.
"It changes the face of access to North America for the Irish travelling public," he said.
"It will also expose millions of U.S. passengers to the Aer Lingus Web site and brand and further consolidate aerlingus.com as the premier way to book flights to Ireland from North America."
The alliance is due to become operational in late summer.
