What required Boeing to sell off United?

The requirement for Boeing to sell off United was primarily driven by antitrust laws. These laws are designed to promote fair competition and prevent monopolistic behavior in the marketplace. When Boeing attempted to merge with or acquire United, it raised significant concerns regarding the potential decrease in competition within the aviation industry. Regulatory bodies, such as the Department of Justice in the United States, closely examine such mergers or acquisitions to ensure that they do not result in a monopoly or significantly reduce competition to the detriment of consumers.

Antitrust laws seek to maintain a level playing field and protect consumers from the negative impacts that can arise from concentrated market power. In this case, by requiring Boeing to divest its interests in United, regulators aimed to uphold competition within the airline industry, ensuring that no single entity could dominate and control pricing or service availability. This context is crucial for understanding the regulatory framework that governs corporate mergers and acquisitions in sectors critical to the economy.