American Airlines, JetBlue to Split $2 Million Legal Fees After Antitrust Loss

American Airlines and JetBlue have agreed to pay nearly $2 million in legal fees to six U.S. states and the District of Columbia after losing a lawsuit challenging their Northeast Alliance (NEA) partnership, which was deemed anti-competitive. The payment, to be split evenly between the airlines, follows a court ruling that blocked the partnership, which allowed the airlines to coordinate operations at major airports in the Northeast. The lawsuit, filed by the U.S. Department of Justice and the states in 2021, argued that the NEA would harm consumers by reducing competition and leading to higher fares. Despite agreeing to the fee payment, both airlines denied any wrongdoing. The court's decision was upheld by an appeals court, and the airlines are now working to dismantle the NEA. The funds from the settlement will be used for legal fees and potentially for further antitrust actions by the states involved.