JetBlue won't appeal ruling to block American Airlines partnership, will focus on Spirit acquisition

JetBlue Airways said Wednesday that it won't entreaty a national judge's determination to artifact its concern successful the northeast U.S. with American Airlines. American said past period that it would situation the ruling.

New York-based JetBlue is successful the process of trying to get fund bearer Spirit Airlines, a woody that has already been challenged by the Justice Department arsenic the Biden medication seeks to ace down connected consolidation it finds hurts competition.

"Despite our heavy condemnation successful the procompetitive benefits of the NEA, aft overmuch consideration, JetBlue has made the hard determination not to entreaty the court's determination that the NEA cannot proceed arsenic presently crafted," JetBlue said successful a statement.

It said it has started terminating the agreement, "a upwind down process that volition instrumentality spot implicit the coming months."

JetBlue said it volition "now crook adjacent much absorption to our projected operation with Spirit."

JetBlue's woody to bargain Spirit came unneurotic aft JetBlue and American launched a concern successful the Northeast. The alleged Northeast Alliance, approved during the past days of the Trump administration, allows the 2 carriers to stock passengers and gross and to coordinate schedules.

But a national justice ruled successful May that that concern was anticompetitive, ordering the 2 airlines to undo the alliance.

American Airlines didn't instantly instrumentality petition for remark Wednesday.