Big Bus and Twin America Hit with $2.5M Fine for Antitrust Collusion

New York – In a landmark antitrust victory, New York Attorney General Letitia James has secured over $2.5 million from Big Bus Tours Limited and Twin America LLC for their collusive efforts to limit competition in the bustling New York City bus tour market.

James’ Office of the Attorney General (OAG) uncovered a series of illegal agreements between the companies, where Twin America agreed to halt its own bus operations in return for high ticket resale commissions from Big Bus. Such arrangements are deemed illegal as they can lead to reduced service quality and higher prices for consumers.

Attorney General James stated, “Healthy competition among bus tour companies ensures a high-quality experience for millions of visitors. Twin America and Big Bus colluded to split profits, neglecting customer needs. Today, we hold them accountable by ending their illegal agreements.”

The investigation began in 2020 when Big Bus and Twin America entered into several collusive deals. In exchange for ceasing its service, Twin America agreed to resell Big Bus tickets at a premium commission rate. Big Bus, in turn, operated Twin America buses under the guise of competition.

Under the settlements, both companies are required to end their illegal agreements and pay substantial penalties. Big Bus will fork over $2 million, while Twin America must pay $500,000 plus 30% of proceeds from any stock or asset sale up to $900,000. They are also forbidden from engaging in anticompetitive practices and must notify the OAG of future acquisitions.

This victory adds to James’ track record of combating anticompetitive behavior. Previous successes include cases against Intermountain for shutting down a competitor and securing settlements with the NCAA to end its restrictive rules on athlete compensation.

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