JetBlue is keeping itself in the news lately, following announcement of its planned Blue Sky partnership with United Airlines with announcement of a link-up with Florida’s private Brightline railroad that links the Miami and Orlando areas.
But it says another link-up story—speculation that it’s in talks to be bought outright by United—is just that, speculation. JetBlue CEO Joanna Geraghty was succinct in answering that question: she said “No,” before pointing out that “We’ve spent a lot of time with the Department of Justice the past couple of years and we’re playing it safe.” Federal courts broke up its Northeast Alliance with American Airlines and blocked a planned take-over of Spirit Airlines.
The Brightline connection offers no such difficulties. It will enable JetBlue passengers flying into either the Miami or Orlando area to continue their trip by train to any of Brightline’s stations, two of which directly serve airports, at Orlando and Fort Lauderdale. The other destinations are West Palm Beach, Boca Raton, Aventura and downtown Miami. While airport to train connections don’t provide transferring baggage, they will include a terminal-to-station free shuttle.
