© 2025 WGCU News
PBS and NPR for Southwest Florida
Donate
Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations

JetBlue and Spirit abandon their decision to merge after it was blocked by a judge

By Ayana Archie
Published March 5, 2024 at 5:00 AM EST
A JetBlue Airways Airbus A320, left, passes a Spirit Airlines Airbus A320 as it taxis on the runway, July 7, 2022, at the Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. JetBlue and Spirit Airlines are ending their proposed $3.8 billion combination after a court ruling blocked their merger.
Wilfredo Lee
/
AP
A JetBlue Airways Airbus A320, left, passes a Spirit Airlines Airbus A320 as it taxis on the runway, July 7, 2022, at the Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. JetBlue and Spirit Airlines are ending their proposed $3.8 billion combination after a court ruling blocked their merger.

Spirit Airlines and JetBlue Airways are abandoning their plan to merge, the companies announced Monday.

A federal judge blocked the merger in January because of concerns about monopolization. Both companies said despite their goal to unify and be a low-cost competitor to major airlines, the legal obstacles wouldn't make the acquisition possible by their deadline of July 2024.

"We are proud of the work we did with Spirit to lay out a vision to challenge the status quo, but given the hurdles to closing that remain, we decided together that both airlines' interests are better served by moving forward independently," JetBlue CEO Joanna Geraghty said. "We wish the very best going forward to the entire Spirit team."

JetBlue must pay Spirit $69 million as part of their termination agreement. Spirit Airlines lost about $184 million in the fourth quarter of this year, and said it would be focusing on turning a profit.

"As we go forward, I am certain our fantastic Spirit team will continue delivering affordable fares and great experiences to our Guests," Spirit CEO Ted Christie said.

Copyright 2024 NPR. To see more, visit https://www.npr.org.

Tags
National News
Ayana Archie
[Copyright 2024 NPR]
Trusted by over 30,000 local subscribers

Local News, Right Sized for Your Morning

Quick briefs when you are busy, deeper explainers when it matters, delivered early morning and curated by WGCU editors.

  • Environment
  • Local politics
  • Health
  • And more

Free and local. No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.

More from WGCU
  • Science/Tech
    Rescue drones assisting Venice First Responders
    WGCU News
    Florida is one of the national leaders in drownings, with nearly 400 people dying every year from unintentional drowning. When it comes to rescue operations, every second matters.
  • The Sarasota County Sheriff’s Office has emerged as one of the Suncoast’s most active partners with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
    Immigration
    Sarasota County Sheriff's Office cashes in on ICE crackdown
    Alice Herman/Suncoast Searchlight
    As the federal government intensifies its immigration crackdown, the Sarasota County Sheriff’s Office has emerged as one of the Suncoast’s most active partners with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. In recent months, Sheriff Kurt Hoffman’s deputies have patrolled the Everglades immigration jail known as “Alligator Alcatraz” and shuttled immigrants between detention facilities in Florida, earning more than $280,000 in state funding for the work. Meanwhile, the number of ICE detainers — which keep people up to 48 hours past their release date for possible detention and deportation — have quadrupled this past year inside the already crowded county jail.
  • Inside the Foulds Theatre at the Alliance for the Arts
    Arts & Culture
    Alliance for the Arts announces theater season
    Tom Hall
    The Alliance for the Arts’ upcoming theater season will feature a dynamic mix of heartfelt comedies, thought-provoking dramas, and original works that spotlight the depth and diversity of Southwest Florida’s theatre community.