Golden State Today

California Attorney General Rob Bonta has expressed approval following a Court of Appeals decision that upheld a lower court's ruling to terminate the Northeast Alliance between American Airlines and JetBlue. This alliance, according to Bonta, allowed the two major airlines to operate as a single entity on certain routes, which posed a threat to competition in an already consolidated industry.

The legal challenge against the Northeast Alliance began on September 21, 2021, when Attorney General Bonta, alongside the U.S. Department of Justice and a bipartisan coalition of states, filed a lawsuit against the airlines. In July 2023, Bonta secured a permanent injunction from the U.S. District Court for the District of Massachusetts.

In response to the recent court decision, Attorney General Bonta stated: “The court’s decision affirms what we know to be true: from more expensive tickets, to low quality service, American Airlines and JetBlue's Northeast Alliance was anticompetitive and harmful to consumers nationwide." He emphasized his commitment to working with federal and state partners in securing this victory for consumers and reiterated his dedication to protecting competitive markets across various sectors.

The decision impacts high-traffic routes involving cities such as Los Angeles, San Francisco, San Diego, Long Beach, Burbank, Ontario, Oakland, Sacramento, San Jose, and Santa Ana.

A copy of the court's decision is available for public access.