American Airlines Seeks Supreme Court Review of JetBlue Partnership Ban, and More

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American Airlines Takes Northeast Alliance Battle to Supreme Court

American Airlines has petitioned the U.S. Supreme Court to overturn a lower court ruling that deemed its Northeast Alliance with JetBlue Airways illegal under antitrust laws.

The petition challenges the November 2024 decision by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the First Circuit that upheld a district court's ruling against the partnership.

Key Points

• The Northeast Alliance, announced in 2020, allowed American Airlines and JetBlue to coordinate flight schedules and share revenue on routes in and out of New York City and Boston.

• The U.S. Department of Justice, under the Biden administration, sued to block the alliance in 2021, arguing it reduced competition and harmed consumers by eliminating incentives for American to cut prices.

• In May 2023, a U.S. District Judge ruled that the alliance violated antitrust laws, forcing the airlines to terminate their partnership.

• American Airlines argues that the joint venture actually increased competition among all airlines in the Northeast region without raising prices and helped overcome limitations on gates and slots in congested airspace.

• The airline claims the partnership increased output at Northeast Alliance airports during the 20 months it was in effect before trial, without any price increases relative to routes outside the alliance.

• American's petition suggests the lower court's decision "threatens to wreak havoc on productive collaborations of all shapes and sizes" in the airline industry.

• The case comes amid increased scrutiny of airline industry consolidation, with the Biden administration also successfully blocking JetBlue's attempted $3.8 billion acquisition of Spirit Airlines in 2024.

• It remains unclear whether the Justice Department under the Trump administration will support American's petition or maintain the previous administration's position.

What It Means

This case could significantly reshape competition policies in the airline industry, potentially affecting how carriers can collaborate in the future.

If successful, American's appeal might open doors for similar alliances that airlines argue benefit consumers through expanded networks and improved scheduling.

Other Key Aviation Industry Updates for Today 👇

2. Spirit Airlines Secures $150M from Pratt & Whitney for Ongoing Engine Troubles

Spirit Airlines has received $150 million in compensation from Pratt & Whitney for its grounded Airbus aircraft due to GTF engine issues.

The Miramar-based carrier expects continued payments as engine removals are projected to persist through at least 2026.

The compensation, revealed in a recent SEC filing, was based on the number of days Spirit's A320neo-family jets have been out of service since October 2023.

The airline is currently negotiating arrangements for aircraft unavailable beyond 2024.

3. Qatar Airways Prepares Major Wide-Body Fleet Order

Qatar Airways will soon finalize a substantial order for wide-body aircraft to support its long-term expansion strategy, according to CCO Thierry Antinori.

The announcement is expected next month, though it remains unclear whether the deal will be with Airbus, Boeing, or both manufacturers.

This follows CEO Badr al Meer's earlier indication about a large aircraft acquisition.

Qatar Airways has experienced 9% passenger growth across its network from April 2024 to January 2025, with Europe showing 14% growth.

4. Alaska Airlines Set to Adopt Starlink Following Hawaiian Merger

Alaska Airlines is planning to equip its aircraft with Starlink satellite internet, following the lead of merger partner Hawaiian Airlines, which was the first to offer this service.

Hawaiian CEO Joe Sprague recently confirmed Alaska is "looking at bringing Starlink on board" with an announcement expected soon.

The airline faces challenges installing Starlink on Boeing 787 Dreamliners due to their carbon fiber fuselage, which may take several months to resolve.

5. Russia Proposes Reopening Direct Air Links with United States

Russia has formally asked the United States to reopen its airspace to Russian aircraft and resume direct flights between the countries.

The request came during diplomatic talks in Istanbul. Prior to restrictions imposed after Russia's 2022 Ukraine invasion, Aeroflot operated routes to New York, Washington, Los Angeles, and Miami.

The U.S. has acknowledged "constructive discussions" but hasn't directly addressed the flight restoration proposal. No official decision has been announced as of March 4, 2025.

6. Turkish Airlines Posts Strong 2024 Results with Cargo Driving Growth

Turkish Airlines announced a US$2.4 billion operating profit for 2024, with total revenue reaching US$22.7 billion, up 8.2% year-on-year.

While passenger revenue grew by 4%, cargo revenue surged by 35%, making Turkish Cargo the world's third-largest air cargo carrier.

Turkish Airlines expanded its fleet by 12% to 492 aircraft and serves 352 international destinations across 131 countries.

The carrier plans to nearly double its fleet to over 800 aircraft by 2033.

7. Compromised Indian Company Email Used in UAE Aviation Sector Targeted Attack

Iranian-linked hackers recently targeted a few UAE aviation and satellite communications organizations using a compromised email account from an Indian electronics company.

Attackers sent emails from a trusted business partner with links to a fake domain hosting malicious files.

Proofpoint attributes this to "UNK_CraftyCamel," likely affiliated with Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, continuing a pattern of Iranian cyber espionage against UAE critical infrastructure.

8. EHang Conducts First Pilotless Urban eVTOL Flight in Europe

Chinese manufacturer EHang successfully conducted Europe's first urban flight of a pilotless eVTOL aircraft in Benidorm, Spain.

The EH216-S flight was part of the EU's U-ELCOME project coordinated by Eurocontrol, demonstrating multi-drone coordination with up to 12 other drones operating simultaneously.

This milestone, managed through Spain's ANSP provider Enaire, marks a significant advancement in integrating unmanned aircraft into urban environments under EASA regulations.

EHang also signed a strategic collaboration agreement with Benidorm to develop urban air mobility in the region.

9. US Air Force Unveils First Unmanned Fighter Aircraft Designations

The US Air Force has officially designated its first two Collaborative Combat Aircraft as fighters - the YFQ-42A by General Atomics and YFQ-44A by Anduril.

Announced by Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. David Allvin on March 3, these are the first unmanned aircraft to receive fighter designations.

The prototypes, developed in under two years, will be ready for their first flights this summer.

These autonomous drones will operate as "loyal wingmen" alongside crewed fighters like the F-35, marking a significant advancement in aerial warfare strategy.

10. Airbus and Boeing Compete for Polish Military Tanker Contract

Poland is advancing plans to acquire air refueling capabilities under its Karkonosze program to support its growing fighter fleet, including F-16s, FA-50s, and incoming F-35s.

Airbus's A330 MRTT is considered a frontrunner, with reports suggesting Poland might combine an Airbus investment with purchasing 2-4 A330 MRTTs and 6-8 A400M transport aircraft.

This competition reignites the long-standing Boeing-Airbus rivalry in military tanker aircraft, with Poland's final decision still pending as of March 4, 2025.