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Home » Law In Travel » Irony: Spirit Airlines Attacks JetBlue-American Partnership
American AirlinesJetBlueLaw In TravelSpirit

Irony: Spirit Airlines Attacks JetBlue-American Partnership

Matthew Klint Posted onSeptember 30, 2022November 13, 2023 4 Comments

a group of colorful airplanes

Even as Spirit Airlines prepares to be acquired by JetBlue Airways, it is insisting that the alliance between JetBlue and American Airlines undermines competition and is bad for consumers.

Spirit Airlines Executive Says JetBlue-American Partnership Adversely Impacts Competition

Testifying in court, Spirit’s Vice President of Network Planning, John Kirby, argued that the Northeast Alliance between American and JetBlue provides a blueprint for other carriers and for the same collusion in other regions, with the net result being higher prices and diminished competition for consumers.

“I view this as opening Pandora’s box.”

Kirby read an email to the court that he had sent Spirit executives after the Northeast Alliance was revealed, arguing that the deal “reeks of antitrust collusion and backroom deals,” specifically concerning the use of slots at New York La Guardia (LGA) and Kennedy (JFK) airports.

He further explained,

“JetBlue is in essence now a feeder airline for American and will do what American wants it to do. American is giving them hundreds of millions of dollars in slots and access to the world’s largest frequent flyer program.”

Neither JetBlue nor American commented on Kirby’s testimony, but the irony was heavy considering Spirit has agreed to be acquired by JetBlue for $3.8 billion. Even so, Kirby added, “It would take a massive amount of divestitures” in order for the alliance to have a net positive effect on consumers.

In a preview of what may be in store for JetBlue, a Justice Department lawyer testified on Thursday that the proposed acquisition of Spirit by JetBlue would allow American “to co-opt two disruptive competitors for the price of one.”

JetBlue has disputed that characterization, arguing the Northeast Alliance and its acquisition of Spirit Airlines are both about creating a larger airline that can better compete with Delta Air Lines and United Airlines. It further argues that average fares have not increased during the 18 months in which the Northeast Alliance has already been in effect.

CONCLUSION

While Spirit Airlines publicly says that it welcomes the acquisition by JetBlue, I cannot help but to think that Kirby’s testimony shows a lack of trust and confidence in the deal internally. It foreshadows the uphill battle JetBlue faces as it fights for both the Northeast Alliance and the acquisition of Spirit, which puts into jeopardy both efforts.

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About Author

Matthew Klint

Matthew is an avid traveler who calls Los Angeles home. Each year he travels more than 200,000 miles by air and has visited more than 135 countries. Working both in the aviation industry and as a travel consultant, Matthew has been featured in major media outlets around the world and uses his Live and Let's Fly blog to share the latest news in the airline industry, commentary on frequent flyer programs, and detailed reports of his worldwide travel.

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4 Comments

  1. DesertGhost Reply
    September 30, 2022 at 12:32 pm

    I don’t see any irony in this at all. Spirit is still an independent airline, and will be until its merger closes (if it does). As such, it has a fiduciary obligation to its shareholders to maximize its value as a stand alone entity. Spirit was one of the main critics of the NEA because it wants more slots at La Guardia. This really isn’t rocket science.

  2. ed lewis Reply
    September 30, 2022 at 12:49 pm

    B6-AA NoWay.

  3. Doreen Reply
    October 1, 2022 at 7:48 am

    Don’t do it Spirit!!
    Bad move!!
    Please stay SINGLE airlines
    Hope it does not go through Fed’s regulatory
    What a disaster for your customers
    Jet Blue is not worth it
    Shareholders keep your money!!
    Your customers DO NOT LIKE JET BLUE

  4. Paper Boarding Pass Reply
    October 1, 2022 at 9:16 am

    Business makes for the strangest bed fellows….nothing new here….just airing some dirty laundry.
    Stock options and bonuses are the rule of the day in every C-Suite
    The $64k question is the ruling of the judge…that’s what counts.

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