Private Sky sues future competitor at RSW

Alleging anti-competitive behavior by Southwest Florida International Airport

By: [Author Name] • June 11, 2023

An upcoming lawsuit alleges anti-competitive behavior at Southwest Florida International Airport in Fort Myers from a future competitor.

Private Sky, a private jet charter company, filed the lawsuit in federal court Monday. It said the airport gave Southwest Airlines and Spirit Airlines special treatment that made it difficult for the company to compete.

The lawsuit alleges that the airport gave the two airlines exclusive use of certain gates and other facilities, and that it charged Private Sky higher fees than other tenants.

The lawsuit also alleges that the airport made it difficult for Private Sky to get access to information about the airport's operations.

Private Sky is asking the court to order the airport to stop its allegedly anti-competitive behavior. It is also seeking damages.

In a statement, Southwest Florida International Airport said that it "strongly disputes the allegations" in the lawsuit.

"We believe that our practices are fair and reasonable, and that we have not engaged in any anti-competitive behavior," the airport said.

The airport said it would "vigorously defend" itself against the lawsuit.

The lawsuit is the latest in a series of legal challenges to the practices of Southwest Florida International Airport.

In 2017, the airport was sued by JetBlue Airways, which alleged that the airport was giving preferential treatment to Southwest Airlines.

That lawsuit was settled in 2018.