United and JetBlue, Viator and Airbnb, and IATA and Big Airline Fears

Today’s podcast talks about a new partnership between United and JetBlue, a possible partnership between Viator and Airbnb, and the big worries of a big airline executive.

Good morning from Skift. It’s Friday, May 30. Here’s what you need to know about the business of travel today.

United Airlines and JetBlue announced on Thursday a new partnership that will see the two carriers link loyalty programs and networks, write Airlines Editor Gordon Smith and Airlines Reporter Meghna Maharishi.

United and JetBlue are launching a domestic partnership called “Blue Sky” that will allow customers from both carriers to earn and burn frequent-flier miles on most flights. Customers will also be able to access the benefits of the other carrier’s loyalty program, such as priority check-in or extra legroom seats.

United and JetBlue will offer flights on each others’ websites, but the two carriers will continue to offer and market their flights independently. JetBlue had been seeking a new domestic partnership with a major airline after a federal judge blocked its Northeast Alliance with American Airlines in 2023.

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Next, Tripadvisor CEO Matt Goldberg has raised the possibility of Viator entering into a partnership with the relaunched Airbnb Experiences, writes Executive Editor Dennis Schaal.

Viator is a leader in the experiences space and Tripadvisor is its parent company. Goldberg said at a Bernstein financial conference on Thursday that Tripadvisor would be paying close attention to Airbnb’s efforts.

Although competitors often partner with each other in the travel industry, Schaal notes the approach may not fit with Airbnb's current strategy of offering more curated tours.

Finally, Willie Walsh, director general of the International Air Transport Association, believes the world’s commercial airspace is under more strain than ever, writes Airlines Editor Gordon Smith.

Walsh said in an exclusive interview that airlines are having to adapt to an ever-shifting map of viable flight paths. Tensions between India and Pakistan forced several carriers to cancel flights earlier this month while others were diverted. Another example is Russian airspace, which remains closed to many Western carriers following the invasion of Ukraine in 2022.

However, Walsh said airlines have become more agile in dealing with the challenges.