Tuesday, August 20, 2024 Delta Air Lines and Scandinavian Airlines (SAS) have jointly requested the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) to disregard JetBlue Airways’ recent objection to their proposed codeshare agreement, labeling it as both untimely and irrelevant.
Delta and SAS, along with SAS’s affiliate airlines, applied in June for approval to initiate codesharing on flights between the U.S. and Scandinavia starting September 1, coinciding with SAS’s entry into the SkyTeam alliance.
JetBlue initially raised an objection in July, citing delays in obtaining similar codeshare approvals in certain European Union (EU) countries. In early August, JetBlue filed an additional objection, referencing issues with its own codeshare arrangement with Air Serbia. Delta and SAS contend that JetBlue’s concerns are unrelated to their application and should not hinder the DOT’s approval process.
They have therefore sought expedited authorization. To address JetBlue’s concerns, Delta and SAS have suggested a possible “carve-out” for specific European markets, if needed, to allow the codeshare agreement to proceed as planned. These markets include Albania, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Croatia, Italy, and Montenegro.
According to Delta and SAS, this approach would enable the DOT to approve the broader U.S.-Scandinavia codeshare agreement without delay.
JetBlue and Air Serbia had previously submitted an application to the DOT in June 2023, seeking approval to codeshare on routes between the U.S. and Serbia, including nonstop and connecting flights, as well as routes extending to third countries.
The DOT granted the application later that month, allowing Air Serbia to display JetBlue’s code on flights between Serbia and the U.S., and on routes operated by Air Serbia from Belgrade.
Conversely, JetBlue was authorized to display Air Serbia’s code on JetBlue-operated flights between Air Serbia’s U.S. gateways and other destinations within the U.
S. or beyond. However, on August 6, JetBlue filed a formal objection with the DOT concerning Croatia and Italy.
The EU member states, along with Delta Air Lines, have expressed opposition to JetBlue’s intention to codeshare on Air Serbia flights from Belgrade to these European countries..
