JetBlue says it will end American Airlines partnership

JetBlue Airways will discontinue its cooperation with American Airlines in the northeastern U.S. after a federal judge ordered them to do so.

JetBlue, located in New York, said Wednesday it will not appeal the finding against the Northeast Alliance, or NEA, agreement, which American

challenged in June. That verdict followed a 2021 lawsuit by the Justice Department, six states, and DC to prohibit the pact as anticompetitive.

JetBlue CEO Robin Hayes wrote in a staff note on Wednesday that “we've spent a lot of time considering next steps and, while we believe in the

NEA's procompetitive benefits, we have made the hard decision not to appeal the court's ruling and have instead initiated the termination of the NEA

Hayes said the airline won't furlough workers but may need fewer employment in New York and Boston due to the wind-down.

JetBlue bought Spirit when JetBlue and American formed the Northeast alliance. The two carriers can share passengers, income, and schedules

under the NEA, granted in the final days of the Trump administration. American and JetBlue argued they needed the pact to compete with United.

An airline spokeswoman did not immediately indicate how American may salvage the arrangement if it wins an appeal or if JetBlue will dissolve it.

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