JetBlue Airways is considering selling itself to a competitor and has hired advisors to explore options, according to a Semafor report on Wednesday, citing those familiar with the matter.
The airline is considering Alaska Airlines, Southwest Airlines, and United Airlines as possible candidates for a merger, and is evaluating how each scenario may be viewed on political and regulatory grounds in Washington.
JetBlue’s plans are preliminary, and the carrier could decide not to pursue talks or mergers, Semafor said. It also noted that it could not be determined if JetBlue has held any talks with any of its competitors yet.
While the airline has won fans in the Northeast through onboard perks such as free Wi-Fi and its signature Mint business class seats, it has struggled on the revenue side and hasn’t turned a profit since 2019.
JetBlue’s $3.8 billion proposal to acquire Spirit Airlines fell apart on antitrust grounds in 2024 and has since looked for a turnaround following several years of losses.
In response to the Wednesday report, the airline affirmed its confidence in its JetForward strategy and its return to profitability.
“We’ve made meaningful progress on our multi-year JetForward strategy and are focused on executing the plan,” an airline spokesperson said. “We’re confident JetForward is the right strategy to restore profitability and create value for our shareholders and opportunities for our crew members.”
JetBlue and United announced a partnership in May 2025, offering reciprocal benefits in their loyalty programs and swapping slots at New York JFK and Newark.
United has long expressed interest in returning to JFK, and acquiring JetBlue would provide it with assets in New York and throughout the East Coast.
In a memo to employees earlier this month, United Chief Executive Officer Scott Kirby pointed to the possibility of arising opportunities that could come out of the current volatile cost environment, such as buying assets and absorbing network changes.
Semafor states that while United does have interests in acquiring JFK slots, it remains disciplined on price and may shy away from JetBlue’s heavy debt load
