Jetblue said to be in talks to drop Amex as credit-card partner

JetBlue Airways Corp. is in talks to replace American Express Co. as its credit-card partner, according to two people briefed on the matter.

The airline solicited bids for another bank to replace New York-based AmEx, the people said, requesting anonymity because the discussions are private. The process could result in a deal with a different network to handle payments, as well as a new card-issuing bank, one of the people said. AmEx may be among bidders, another person said.

Costco Wholesale Corp., the largest U.S. warehouse-club chain, said last month that it will stop accepting all American Express cards in Canada on Jan. 1 after a breakdown in negotiations between the two companies. AmEx's contract with Costco in the U.S. is separate.

Sharon Jones, a spokeswoman for New York-based JetBlue, declined to comment, as did AmEx's Elizabeth Crosta.

American Express and JetBlue introduced their co-branded travel rewards credit card in 2005. AmEx also has a partnership with Atlanta-based Delta Air Lines Inc.