- A bipartisan group of seven AGs, including Massachusetts AG Maura Healey, and the U.S. Department of Justice sued American Airlines Group Inc. (“American Airlines”) and JetBlue Airways Corporation (“JetBlue”) over allegations that a series of agreements between the airlines, in which they will consolidate their operations in Boston and New York City, will significantly diminish competition and consumer choice in violation of the Sherman Act.
- The complaint, filed in the United States District Court for Massachusetts, alleges that in the pursuit of a strategy of industry consolidation, American Airlines’ “Northeast Alliance” with JetBlue, through which the two airlines agreed to combine operations at four major northeastern airports, including the coordination of all aspects of network planning such as flight routes, will eliminate competition and raise prices for passengers between Boston and New York. The complaint further alleges that the Alliance will diminish the incentive for JetBlue to aggressively compete with American Airlines in other markets, thus further harming air travelers across the country.
- The complaint seeks to permanently enjoin American Airlines and JetBlue from continuing the Northeast Alliance.