Spirit Airlines has filed a complaint against the United Airlines and JetBlue ‘Blue Sky’ partnership with the US Department of Transportation (DoT) on June 24, 2025.
The low-cost carrier said the partnership “raises serious competition and public interest questions” similar to the American and JetBlue Northeast Alliance (NEA).
This alliance was dissolved after a trial in 2023 found it to be anticompetitive and was later upheld by a US appeals court in late 2023. American and JetBlue had been in discussions to form a new partnership, focussing on network and loyalty. American ended partnership talks with JetBlue and filed a lawsuit seeking damages after the failed alliance, a letter to staff from American's vice chair and chief strategy officer Steve Johnson had said on April 28, 2025.
Spirit said it was a “telling precedent” that United had “strongly supported” public access to the NEA agreements and allowing for comments in the public intertest in response to Spirit's complaint against the NEA in 2021.
“Based on what is publicly available, implementation of these agreements appear to constitute an anticompetitive unfair method of competition that must be prohibited,” the airline read in its complaint.
Spirit said the Blue Sky partnership creates “the same anticompetitive incentives” as the NEA. The airline added: “JetBlue, enticed by the benefit to its customers of United's far larger global network, will become a de facto vassal of United."
The airline went on to claim that JetBlue's network will be “affected by United's wishes” in regards to capacity management. Additionally, Spirit claimed the partnership will “perpetuate the unchanging lack of access in both New York area and Boston airports” to new entrants and limit competitive pricing. The complaint concluded that BlueSky would “neutralise the competitive benefit” of JetBlue, raise fares, and weaken other low-cost carriers such as Spirit itself by “siphoning off customers” to United's loyalty programme.
A spokesperson for JetBlue responded to claim, stating: "JetBlue's filing misrepresents Blue Sky and twists the facts about how JetBlue and United plan to deliver for customers.
“Blue Sky is built around the goal of offering more value and options for travellers. Through an industry standard loyalty programme agreement, customers will gain more ways to earn and redeem points/miles and access loyalty benefits.”
The spokesperson highlighted that the company has interline, codeshare, or loyalty programme agreements with over 50 airlines.
They added: “Blue Sky involves an industry standard interline agreement and does not include schedule coordination or revenue sharing. JetBlue and United will remain competitors as they each will continue to publish, price, and market flights independently under their own brand and flight numbers and make independent network decisions.”
Spirit decline to comment beyond its submission and United also declined to comment.
JetBlue CEO Joanna Geraghty had said partnership was a “bold step forward” for commercial aviation, adding: “[The partnership] brings together two customer-focussed airlines to deliver more choices for travellers and value across our networks.”
In March, United CEO Scott Kirby said during the JP Morgan 2025 Industrials Conference he wanted a presence “on the other side of the river at JFK” in New York but was discouraged by "all the headache" of buying an airline to ensure a presence at JFK. He added at the time, prior to the partnership deal, that the “ball is going to be in JetBlue's court”.
Kirby had also noted during the conference: "Airports are just too expensive. The airport authorities have killed the low-cost carrier business model in big cities.”
Kirby said the partnership will give frequent flyer members “new, unique ways to use their hard-earned miles and find options that fit their schedule”.
On the same day, Spirit introduced new names for its travel options, changing its premium experience from ‘Go Big’ to ‘Spirit First’; ‘Go Comfy’ to ‘Premium Economy’; and ‘Go’ to ‘Value’.
“We're simplifying choices so travellers can better understand and compare their options and the exceptional value that Spirit provides,” said Spirit SVP and chief commercial officer Rana Ghosh.
Spirit is phasing out its ‘Go Savvy’ option, with current reservations with the option still being honoured. The option included a personal bag, a carry on bag and standard seat selection.
JetBlue recently cancelled flights to Miami International Airport as it continues to strip away unprofitable routes. The airline said travellers booked on cancelled flights have the option to fly via Fort Lauderdale or receive full refund.