JetBlue Airways and Aer Lingus, the flag carrier of Ireland, have announced an agreement for the Irish carrier to move its New York flight operations into JetBlue’s acclaimed Terminal 5 at John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) in early 2013.

Aer Lingus will become the first foreign carrier to join JetBlue at Terminal 5.

“We are honored to be welcoming Aer Lingus, our first international airline partner, into our home at Terminal 5,” said JetBlue President and CEO Dave Barger.

“We’re certain that the hundreds of thousands of travelers passing through New York with Aer Lingus each year will truly enjoy doing so through JFK’s newest and most appealing terminal.

Plus, for those customers connecting between our airlines to other destinations, this move is making the transit experience easier and more pleasurable than ever.”

Aer Lingus CEO Christoph Mueller said, “We are delighted to announce our move to T5 at JFK. Aer Lingus and JetBlue have been working closely together for the past four years offering connections between our networks at New York and Boston. Both airlines share a dedication to our customers and enjoy reputations for providing great value service. Today’s announcement means that all Aer Lingus customers at JFK will now get to enjoy the unique T5 experience.”         

The Irish airline currently offers twice-daily service between JFK and Dublin and three weekly flights between JFK and Shannon, carrying nearly 400,000 customers through the airport last year.

Aer Lingus and JetBlue have offered interline connections since 2008, affording travelers the benefits of one-stop ticketing and baggage check-in for travel on both carriers.

With the move to Terminal 5, the minimum connection time from European arrivals to US departures will be reduced to just 60 minutes. Customers traveling to Ireland will enjoy connections as fast as 40 minutes.

JFK-bound Aer Lingus customers will clear U.S. Customs and Immigration formalities in Ireland, allowing them to get on their way quickly in New York without the need for queuing after a transatlantic journey. Customers traveling onward with JetBlue to other destinations in the Americas will particularly benefit from the pre-clearance service in Ireland to make fast, same-terminal connections at Terminal 5.

Completed by JetBlue in 2008, Terminal 5 is JFK’s newest terminal, and is regularly praised as one of the best airport experiences in both the United States and the World. Aer Lingus customers will enjoy the many unique and exciting retail offerings, including a duty free store, and more than two dozen highly regarded dining establishments, featuring food and drink options that will appeal to a wide variety of international palates.

In addition to its shopping and dining appeal, Terminal 5 is also entertaining: the 635,000-square-foot showcase plays host to Live from T5, a regular concert series featuring a rotating roster of top talent, most recently, Ireland’s own singing sensation, Julie Feeney.

JetBlue is New York's Hometown Airline with other focus cities in Boston, Fort Lauderdale, Los Angeles, Orlando, and San Juan. They serve 71 cities with 800 daily flights.

Until its relocation in the first quarter of 2013, Aer Lingus will continue to operate from Terminal 4, a short ride away on JFK’s free and frequent AirTrain service.

Tickets for combined JetBlue-Aer Lingus travel may be booked online at www.aerlingus.com and www.jetblue.com.