Presque Isle is currently served by JetBlue with flights to and from Boston Logan International Airport, which makes an essential link between Aroostook County and the National Air Transportation System.
Now the airline is part of the Blue Sky partnership, and that daily flight to and from Boston will open access to much of United Airlines’ extensive route system.
For business travelers, this means easier one-stop service to major domestic hubs such as Chicago, Denver, Houston and Washington Dulles. Through these hubs, business travelers can connect to virtually any airport in the United network. Instead of stitching together separate itineraries, passengers will be able to book a combined JetBlue–United trip on one reservation, and earn or redeem loyalty points across both airlines.
Leisure travelers will benefit from more choices with United’s ties to the mountain West, Midwest and Southeast, enlarging options for national parks trips, family visits and warm-weather getaways starting from Presque Isle.
United has gateways for international travel, too, which will allow passengers to start in northern Maine, go through United gateways in cities like Newark, Washington, D.C., and San Francisco, and connect to Europe, Asia, Africa and South America with fewer obstacles than before.
A convenience improvement for PQI travelers is that hecked bags will automatically be forwarded to the final destination when a trip includes both JetBlue and United. Passengers will no longer need to exit security in Boston, retrieve their luggage, and recheck it with the second airline — a time-consuming process that previously forced long layovers or added anxiety on tight connections.
Through-checked baggage makes transfers more seamless and allows travelers to move directly from their JetBlue flight to a United gate without interruption.
The partnership is also expected to reduce layover times in Boston. With the larger combined number of jetBlue and United flights, passengers will see more connection options and fewer long gaps between flights. This is especially beneficial for morning and evening travel, when Presque Isle passengers previously faced limited onward choices.
More flight options will increase the likelihood of same-day transfers and decrease the need for overnight stays or multi-airport routing — welcome news for Aroostook County passengers traveling for work, medical appointments or academic reasons.
Both airlines’ loyalty programs are already integrated for earning and redeeming points.
In addition, full booking integration — allowing travelers to purchase United flights on JetBlue.com and JetBlue flights on United.com — is expected to launch in early 2026. This will allow northern Maine passengers to plan mixed-carrier itineraries in one place.
The partnership will bring a wide global and domestic network, and existing customer-friendly perks will remain that PQI travelers appreciate, including spacious seating, free high-speed wifi, seatback entertainment and complimentary snacks and soft drinks.
Customer satisfaction surveys routinely place JetBlue among the top U.S. airlines for overall passenger experience. With the Blue Sky partnership, JetBlue amenities now pair with United’s extensive domestic and global reach — meaning passengers can begin their trip from Presque Isle with the comfort and service they know, while connecting seamlessly to a wide range of destinations.
For many residents of Presque Isle and surrounding communities, the daily flight to Boston is already the most convenient way to access major air routes. With the new partnership, that flight becomes significantly more valuable, unlocking better domestic access, broader international reach, shorter layovers, streamlined baggage transfers and unified booking tools.
For Aroostook County flyers, this partnership is an upgrade to how easily and comfortably they can reach the rest of the country and the world.
Scott Wardwell is airport director for Presque Isle International Airport. He can be reached at 764-2550 or via email at scottw@flypresqueisle.com.
