Washington, D.C. — The American Economic Liberties Project released the following statement in response to a new suit filed by the U.S. Department of Justice and seven state and territorial attorneys general that targets a joint venture between American Airlines and JetBlue.

“On the very last day of the Trump administration, Transportation Secretary Elaine Chao approved a de facto merger between American Airlines and JetBlue through a joint venture that allows them to combine operations in New York, Washington, and Boston,” said Matt Stoller, Director of Research at the American Economic Liberties Project. “It was a disgraceful decision by Chao that harms consumers, workers, and the public interest. We applaud the Department of Justice and the 7 state and territorial attorneys general for challenging this deal, and we encourage Congress to strip the Department of Transportation from having the authority to approve this kind of unfair consolidation.”

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The American Economic Liberties Project works to ensure America’s system of commerce is structured to advance, rather than undermine, economic liberty, fair commerce, and a secure, inclusive democracy. Economic Liberties believes true economic liberty means entrepreneurs and businesses large and small succeed on the merits of their ideas and hard work; commerce empowers consumers, workers, farmers, and engineers instead of subjecting them to discrimination and abuse from financiers and monopolists; foreign trade arrangements support domestic security and democracy; and wealth is broadly distributed to support equitable political power.