In the fiercely competitive aviation industry, Delta Air Lines CEO Ed Bastian expressed no concerns about the newly formed partnership between United Airlines and JetBlue Airways. Speaking at the International Air Transport Association (IATA) annual meeting in Delhi on June 1, Bastian asserted that Delta's code-sharing agreement with fast-growing Indian carrier IndiGo and expanded collaborations with Air France-KLM and Virgin Atlantic would yield greater long-term benefits compared to United and JetBlue's limited "Blue Skies" slot exchange in New York markets.
Bastian noted that despite United and JetBlue's announcement about exchanging slots at JFK and Newark Liberty airports, Delta maintains a strong position in the Northeast market. The partnership, revealed on May 29, will allow both airlines' passengers to earn and redeem frequent flyer points on each other's flights. United is set to gain up to seven daily round-trip slots at John F. Kennedy International Airport around 2027, in exchange for eight slots at Newark Airport, in what the companies described as a "net neutral exchange."
Following regulatory approval of the IndiGo partnership, the Indian carrier will add its code to 30 European destinations served by KLM flights from Amsterdam, along with routes to the United States and Canada. Simultaneously, IndiGo will participate in code-sharing on Delta's North American flights. Bastian emphasized that this strategic alliance with one of the world's fastest-growing airlines represents a new era of opportunity in India's vast aviation market.
"Rather than worrying about minor slot exchanges, I prefer to focus on the fresh opportunities in what will become the world's largest aviation market," Bastian stated. Against this backdrop, Delta's seamless integration with IndiGo and other partners positions the airline to lead the market, offering more efficient route networks and services to meet growing customer demand.