US: JetBlue calls for regular reviews of joint ventures

JetBlue said this week that American, Delta and United airlines use international alliances with antitrust protection to stifle competition and control pricing.

US regulators should review the agreements known as immunized joint ventures to ensure they are “truly benefiting the traveling public,” JetBlue said in a letter to the secretaries of the State, Commerce and Transportation departments Tuesday. The accords should be re-examined periodically, the airline said.

JetBlue called for a review of immunized ventures while commenting on claims by the bigger carriers that three Persian Gulf airlines have gained an unfair competitive advantage through $42 billion in subsidies from their governments. The antitrust exemptions let member airlines coordinate pricing, schedules and marketing without fear of prosecution.

“Left unchecked, this US government-sanctioned collusion will continue to stifle innovation and competition in international aviation and will directly harm JetBlue and consumers,” said the letter signed by Robert Land, senior vice president for government affairs.

Full content: Aviation Week

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