American and JetBlue’s interline termination reflects the realities of US airline consolidation

Cancellation of an interline and frequent flyer tie-up between American Airlines and JetBlue is a direct result of the American and US Airways merger and the new combined airline's improved positioning on the US east coast driven by the Philadelphia hub at legacy US Airways.

A product of the integration under way between US Airways and American, the new American's hub in Philadelphia was simply too close to both Boston and JFK airports covered by the relationship between American and JetBlue.

While the termination of the agreement between American and JetBlue is a small development in the complex integration occurring between US Airways and American, it is another by product of the changing dynamics that consolidation is ushering into the aviation business landscape.