A Massachusetts court (USA) has ruled favorably in favor of the Department of Justice and the attorneys general of six states and the District of Columbia in their civil antitrust lawsuit to block the Northeast alliance between American Airlines and JetBlue.
Attorney General Merrick B. “Today’s decision is a victory for Americans who rely on inter-airline competition for affordable travel,” Garland said. “The Department of Justice will continue to protect competition and enforce our antitrust laws in the heavily established airline industry and across all industries.”
‘We are satisfied with the court’s decision. “The outcome of this lawsuit recognizes the value of competition in the airline industry,” said Jonathan Kanter, assistant attorney general for the Justice Department’s Antitrust Division. “We are grateful to our state law enforcement partners and the dedicated and talented staff of the Antitrust Division who investigated and tried this important case.”
The court’s decision concludes a multi-week trial that began in September 2022. The Justice Department sued American Airlines and JetBlue to continue with Northeast Alliance.
The Northeast Alliance is a series of agreements between American Airlines and JetBlue through which the two airlines consolidated their operations in Boston and New York City. The court ruled that the decision by JetBlue and American Airlines to stop competing in Boston and New York, where they are major players, violated Section 1 of the Sherman Act because it raised fares and cost American travelers in many domestic markets. Reduced options. air traveller. Service.
