'Today's decision is a win for Americans who rely on competition between airlines to travel affordably.'
An American Airlines plane lands on a runway near a parked JetBlue plane at the Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport on July 16, 2020, in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.A Massachusetts-based federal judge on Friday sided with the Biden administration plus six states and the District of Columbia, which launched an antitrust challenge to American Airlines and JetBlue Airways’ “de facto merger” for Boston and New York City.
The U.S. Department of Justice along with the attorneys general of Arizona, California, Florida, Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, Virginia, and D.C.“This case turns on what ‘competition’ means,” U.S. District Court Judge Leo Sorokin, an appointee of former President Barack Obama,Friday. “To the defendants, competition is enhanced if they join forces to unseat a powerful rival. The Sherman Act, however, has a different focus.
“Federal antitrust law is not concerned with making individual competitors larger or more powerful. It aims to preserve the free functioning of markets and foster participation by a diverse array of competitors,” the judge added. “Those principles are generally undermined, rather than promoted, by agreements among horizontal competitors to dispense with competition and cooperate instead. That is precisely what happened here.
A federal judge ruled today that JetBlue and America’s alliance amounted to an illegal merger. Another big win for DOJ Antitrust.
United States Latest News, United States Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Federal judge in Joran van der Sloot extortion case recuses herselfJudge Karen Bowdre rescued herself Wednesday. The case has now been assigned to Judge Anna Mansco.
Read more »
A 95-Year-Old Federal Judge Is Suing to Avoid Taking a Cognitive TestIn March, Federal Circuit Chief Judge Moore confirmed an investigation into Judge Newman’s health, detailing various issues. Now Judge Newman has sued Judge Moore.
Read more »
Federal judge declares American Airlines and JetBlue must end partnershipThe Justice Department and several states sued to break up the airline alliance.
Read more »
Parts of Aurora parade permit law likely unconstitutional, federal judge says in gay pride event suitParts of Aurora's special-events permit law violate 1st Amendment, federal judge rules in lawsuit over gay pride parade.
Read more »
American Airlines and JetBlue must abandon their partnership in the Northeast, federal judge rulesAmerican Airlines and JetBlue Airways must abandon their partnership in the northeast United States, a federal judge in Boston ruled Friday, saying that the government proved the deal reduces competition in the airline industry.
Read more »
Federal judge declares American Airlines and JetBlue must end partnershipThe Justice Department and several states sued to break up the airline alliance.
Read more »