jetBlue Technology Ventures, the venture capital subsidiary of JetBlue Airways (B6, New York JFK), has signed an agreement with Air New Zealand (NZ, Auckland International) which will see the carriers joining forces under the umbrella of the International Innovation Partnership.
The carriers have announced that the new partnership, the first such undertaking on an international level in the aviation industry, will seek to boost innovation in the sector and support both already existing and newly formed start-ups.
The partnership will operate primarily in the Silicon Valley, where jetBlue has already been present for some time with its venture arm. For Air New Zealand, the new cooperation will lead to simplified access to new technology, most of which is developed in the United States.
jetBlue Technology Ventures has said it expects more partners to launch partnerships in the coming months. While the American carrier intends to build a global network, all future partners will also establish offices in the Silicon Valley.
The venture arm of jetBlue has already invested in a number of start-ups, including electric aircraft manufacturers Zunum Aero (Seattle Tacoma International) and Joby Aviation. Its portfolio also includes multiple customer experience, big data/AI, booking and travel management engines, and hospitality services start-ups.
