New York-based JetBlue Airways and Deutsche Lufthansa AG have signed a codeshare agreement under which JetBlue would be allowed to place the Lufthansa code (LH) on JetBlue flights.

Initially, the airlines plan to offer connecting service between 12 JetBlue destinations in the U.S. and Puerto Rico and Lufthansa's network of 180 destinations in Europe, the Middle East, Africa and Asia.

The agreement was filed Tuesday for authorization from the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT).

Once a statement of authorization is issued by the DOT, Lufthansa and JetBlue plan to offer convenient connections between the airlines' networks, beginning first with the following U.S. cities:

• Austin, Texas
• Buffalo, N.Y.
• Fort Lauderdale, Fla.
• Fort Myers, Fla.
• New Orleans
• Pittsburgh
• Raleigh/Durham, N.C.
• Rochester, N.Y.
• San Juan, Puerto Rico
• Syracuse, N.Y.
• Tampa, Fla.
• West Palm Beach, Fla.

Customers traveling from these U.S. cities on JetBlue will be able to connect via New York/JFK or Boston onto Lufthansa flights bound for destinations throughout Europe, the Middle East, Africa and Asia.

Both airlines are looking forward to the commencement of codeshare operations, which will allow them to provide their customers with an extended route network and a seamless flight experience. Pending authorization, codeshare flights will be available for sale by early October, and will be bookable on lufthansa.com, via a link on jetblue.com, or through local and online travel agencies.

In January 2008, the two airlines entered into an agreement under which Deutsche Lufthansa AG purchased an ownership interest in JetBlue Airways Corporation.