JetBlue Pushes Back on Antitrust Critics Over American Airlines Alliance

JetBlue Airways came out swinging in defense of its Northeast alliance with American Airlines, which the U.S. Justice Department has sued to stop. The New York-based carrier says, contrary to Justice's complaint, that the alliance only enhances competition and breaks up what was essentially a Delta Air Lines and United Airlines duopoly in the New York metropolitan region.

"New York has historically been dominated by two carriers," Robin Hayes, JetBlue's chief executive, told analysts during the company's third-quarter earnings call Tuesday. "Our commitment to competition and low fares is steadfast, and we are fully committed to this alliance."

JetBlue's Northeast Alliance with American allows the two airlines to sell tickets on each other's flights, reciprocate loyalty program benefits, and coordinate schedules, among other benefits. JetBlue noted that since it entered the alliance, the airline has added 58 new routes to its schedules from New York and Boston, and it plans to add up to 18 international destinations next year. For better connections on American's network, JetBlue also plans to expand at New York LaGuardia and is adding routes to New Orleans, Nashville, and Portland, Maine next year.

Crucially, for alliance gives JetBlue, which has focused on leisure travelers for most of its 20-year history, access to American's rich vein of hi