JetBlue seeks to partner with Abu Dhabi airline

JetBlue Airways and the national airline of the United Arab Emirates, Etihad Airways, have formed a partnership that would allow passengers to fly on routes operated by both carriers on a single ticket.

A statement from Long Island City-based JetBlue and Etihad Wednesday says that initially, Etihad would code-share on 40 JetBlue routes within the United States. The airliners say more code-share services are planned on JetBlue flights once Etihad commences daily flights to Los Angeles this June.

The agreement is subject to government approval.

Etihad currently has nonstop daily flights from Abu Dhabi to New York, Washington D.C. and Chicago.

In late 2012, JetBlue formed a code-share deal with the Mideast's biggest airline, Emirates, which flies daily from its hub in Dubai to JetBlue's home base at Kennedy Airport.