Economic Rules Hub
  • World
  • Politics
  • Business
  • Investing
Home Business JetBlue and Spirit Airlines terminate $3.8 billion merger
Business

JetBlue and Spirit Airlines terminate $3.8 billion merger

by admin March 5, 2024
March 5, 2024

JetBlue Airways and Spirit Airlines on Monday said they were terminating their merger agreement weeks after losing a federal antitrust lawsuit that challenged the deal.

A federal judge blocked the attempted merger in January after the Justice Department sued to bar the deal last year alleging the acquisition would stifle competition in the airline industry and eliminate Spirit as a discount alternative for price-conscious travelers.

JetBlue and Spirit appealed the judge’s decision a couple of days later, but JetBlue noted the appeal was required under the terms of the merger agreement.

Spirit shares tumbled 17% in premarket trading, while shares of JetBlue were up roughly 4%.

“It was a bold and courageous plan intended to shake up the industry status quo, and we were right to compete with Frontier and go for an opportunity that would have supercharged our growth and provided more opportunities for crewmembers,” JetBlue CEO Joanna Geraghty said in a note to staff Monday.

“However, with the ruling from the federal court and the Department of Justice’s continued opposition, the probability of getting the green light to move forward with the merger anytime soon is extremely low.”

JetBlue’s prospective purchase of Spirit would have been a buoy for the struggling discounter airline, which is facing the grounding of dozens of its Airbus planes for inspections stemming from a Pratt & Whitney engine defect. Spirit expects compensation from the engine maker as a result of the flaw.

With the deal off the table, Spirit must confront its financial problems alone, something its leaders say it is equipped to do.

The company said it was working to refinance its debt, and last month said it was on a path back to profitability thanks to better-than-expected demand. It projected revenue for the first quarter above analysts’ expectations.

“Throughout the transaction process, given the regulatory uncertainty, we have always considered the possibility of continuing to operate as a standalone business and have been evaluating and implementing several initiatives that will enable us to bolster profitability and elevate the Guest experience,” Spirit CEO Ted Christie said in a release.

He said Spirit shareholders received $425 million in prepayments from JetBlue during the agreement, and that JetBlue will pay Spirit $69 million related to the agreement’s termination.

This post appeared first on NBC NEWS

0
FacebookTwitterPinterestEmail
previous post
Passengers sue Boeing and Alaska Airlines for $1 billion over mid-air door panel blowout
next post
Apple hit with more than $1.95B E.U. antitrust fine over music streaming

Related Posts

Tesla stock sinks as Musk and Trump ridicule each other

June 9, 2025

Trump implies government could cut contracts and subsidies to Musk’s...

June 8, 2025

Procter & Gamble to cut 7,000 jobs as part of...

June 7, 2025

Shein and Temu see U.S. demand plunge as loophole for...

June 6, 2025

This California startup is cleaning water and removing CO₂ from...

June 6, 2025

Nationwide coordinated retail crime crackdown results in hundreds of arrests,...

June 5, 2025

    Get free access to all of the retirement secrets and income strategies from our experts! or Join The Exclusive Subscription Today And Get the Premium Articles Acess for Free


    By opting in you agree to receive emails from us and our affiliates. Your information is secure and your privacy is protected.

    Recent

    • Germany plans rapid expansion of outdated bunkers amid fears of Russian aggression

      June 9, 2025
    • Champion of the people or a traitor? A new force emerges in southern Gaza

      June 9, 2025
    • Israel vows to stop aid boat with Greta Thunberg and other activists on board from reaching Gaza

      June 9, 2025
    • Israeli military recovers body of elusive Hamas leader Mohammed Sinwar

      June 9, 2025
    • Israel has boarded Gaza-bound aid ship carrying Greta Thunberg, the Freedom Flotilla Coalition says

      June 9, 2025

    Categories

    • Business (1,396)
    • Investing (3,407)
    • Politics (4,566)
    • World (4,479)
    • Email Whitelisting
    • Terms and Conditions
    • Privacy Policy
    • Contacts
    • About us

    Disclaimer: EconomicRulesHub.com, its managers, its employees, and assigns (collectively “The Company”) do not make any guarantee or warranty about what is advertised above. Information provided by this website is for research purposes only and should not be considered as personalized financial advice. The Company is not affiliated with, nor does it receive compensation from, any specific security. The Company is not registered or licensed by any governing body in any jurisdiction to give investing advice or provide investment recommendation. Any investments recommended here should be taken into consideration only after consulting with your investment advisor and after reviewing the prospectus or financial statements of the company.

    Copyright © 2024 EconomicRulesHub.com | All Rights Reserved

    Economic Rules Hub
    • World
    • Politics
    • Business
    • Investing