Alleges “Abusive Monopolist” Actions

SmartSky Networks has filed an anti-trust lawsuit against Gogo Inc., and Gogo Business Aviation, LLC, in U.S. District Court for the Western District of North Carolina, alleging that Gogo engaged in monopolistic actions in the air-to-ground (ATG) broadband inflight connectivity market for business aviation.

The lawsuit alleges that Gogo, through predatory pricing, misleading advertising, and exclusive dealing agreements, committed multiple violations of federal anti-trust laws including the Sherman Act and Clayton Act, as well as North Carolina tort laws and the Unfair and Deceptive Trade Practices Act to maintain its monopoly position in the ATG market.

SmartSky says it is pursuing this case to seek justice for unfair business practices and to protect innovation. The company’s complaint asserts that Gogo conducted a systematic campaign of misinformation and exclusive dealing arrangements to effectively block SmartSky’s access to critical distribution channels and created insurmountable barriers to market entry, stifling the innovation and competition that customers depend on.

The lawsuit is seeking substantial damages, potentially exceeding $1 billion, and this action is intended to address the alleged harms to competition and consumers in the aviation connectivity market.

SmartSky ceased all business operations in August 2024. Prior to that it was an aviation technology company that developed and launched an innovative ATG network for business aviation, providing connectivity solutions through advanced telecommunications technology and infrastructure.

FMI:  www.gogoair.com/ , smartskynetworks.com/