American, JetBlue search dismissal of antitrust lawsuit tied to partnership

American Airways and JetBlue Airways on Monday requested a U.S. decide to dismiss a lawsuit that the Justice Division and 6 states filed over the carriers’ partnership within the Northeast.

The lawsuit, filed in federal court docket in Massachusetts in September, alleges that the airways’ so-called Northeast Partnership, violates antitrust legislation, would scale back competitors within the area and will drive up airfares and decrease service high quality.

That partnership lets American and JetBlue promote one another’s flights to and from the Northeast U.S., together with normally congested airports in Boston and the New York Metropolis space. The airways had argued that the partnership, authorized on the finish of the Trump administration, would permit them to raised compete in opposition to Delta Air Strains and United Airways within the area.

American and JetBlue stated Monday that the Justice Division and different plaintiffs have not proven that the alliance has damage competitors or pushed up fares and in consequence the lawsuit ought to be tossed.

“The NEA has been underway for 9 months, but Plaintiffs don’t allege that it has induced a single greater worth, any discount in high quality or the slightest discount in output,” the airways wrote.

The Justice Division declined to remark.