December 11, 2023


Los Angeles, CA January 11, 2023 Due to a problem with the FAA computers, the flight is scheduled to depart at Los Angeles International Airport on January 11, 2023.

Caroline Cole | Los Angeles Times | Getty Images

JetBlue Airways said Wednesday it will not appeal a federal judge’s decision to block it from working with the Northeast American airlines. American said last month it would challenge the ruling.

New York-based JetBlue is trying to buy budget airlines Spirit AirlinesThe deal has already been challenged by the Justice Department as the Biden administration seeks to fight mergers it sees as harming competition.

In a statement, JetBlue said: “While we strongly believe that the NEA provides pro-competitive benefits, after careful consideration, JetBlue has made the difficult decision not to challenge the court’s ruling that the NEA cannot continue as it is currently enacted. appeal against the decision.”

The company said it had initiated the process of terminating the agreement and that “the process of winding it down will take place over the coming months”.

JetBlue said it “will now turn increased attention to our proposed merger with Spirit Airlines.”

JetBlue acquires Spirit Airlines following JetBlue’s partnership with American Airlines in the Northeast. The so-called Northeast Alliance, approved in the final days of the Trump administration, allows the two airlines to share passengers and revenue and coordinate flight schedules.

But a federal judge ruled in May that the partnership was anticompetitive and ordered the two airlines to cancel the alliance.

American Airlines did not immediately respond to a request for comment on Wednesday.