American Airlines and JetBlue Airways on Monday filed a motion in federal court to dismiss a civil antitrust lawsuit filed in September by the U.S. Department of Justice, six U.S. states and the District of Columbia to break up the carriers' partnership.
The suit claims the partnership, announced in July 2020 and dubbed the Northeast Alliance for its focus on four New York and Boston airports, would eliminate competition between the two airlines and lead to "higher fares, fewer choices and lower quality service," according to a September statement from U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland.
Monday's filing by the carriers argues that the implementation of the Northeast Alliance in February 2021 has "allowed American and JetBlue to offer consumers the benefits of a broader and deeper network at these airports—more flights and seats to more places—so that each airline can become more competitive with the dominant carriers in the Northeast," Delta Air Lines and United Airlines. "The NEA has been underway for nine months, yet Plaintiffs do not allege that it has caused a single higher price, any reduction in quality or the slightest reduction in output."
DOJ, American and JetBlue last week agreed to a proposed trial date beginning in September 2022, but the federal court judge in Boston has not yet approved the proposed schedule.
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