https://www.reuters.com/markets/deals/us-judge-blocks-jetblue-acquiring-spirit-airlines-2024-01-16/ Skip to main content Exclusive news, data and analytics for financial market professionals Learn more aboutRefinitiv Reuters home * World Browse World + Africa + Americas + Asia Pacific + China + Europe + India + Israel and Hamas at War + Japan + Middle East + United Kingdom + United States + US Elections + Ukraine Crisis + Reuters Next + 2023 Year in Review * Business Browse Business + Aerospace & Defense + Autos & Transportation + Davos + Energy + Environment + Finance + Healthcare & Pharmaceuticals + Media & Telecom + Retail & Consumer + Future of Health + Future of Money + Take Five + World at Work * Markets Browse Markets + Asian Markets + Carbon Markets + Commodities + Currencies + Deals + Emerging Markets + ETFs + European Markets + Funds + Global Market Data + Rates & Bonds + Stocks + U.S. Markets + Wealth + Macro Matters * Sustainability Browse Sustainability + Boards, Policy & Regulation + Climate & Energy + Land Use & Biodiversity + Society & Equity + Sustainable Finance & Reporting + Reuters Impact + COP28 * Legal Browse Legal + Government + Legal Industry + Litigation + Transactional + US Supreme Court * Breakingviews Browse Breakingviews + Breakingviews Predictions * Technology Browse Technology + Cybersecurity + Space + Disrupted + Reuters Momentum * Investigations * More Sports + Athletics + Baseball + Basketball + Cricket + Cycling + Formula 1 + Golf + NFL + NHL + Soccer + Tennis ScienceLifestyleGraphics PicturesPodcastsFact CheckVideoSponsored Content + Reuters Plus + Coupons My View Register * Deals US judge blocks JetBlue from acquiring Spirit Airlines By Nate Raymond, David Shepardson and Rajesh Kumar Singh January 16, 20249:45 PM UTCUpdated ago * * * * * * * * BOSTON, Jan 16 (Reuters) - A federal judge on Tuesday blocked JetBlue Airways' (JBLU.O), opens new tab planned $3.8 billion acquisition of ultra-low-cost carrier Spirit Airlines (SAVE.N), opens new tab after agreeing with the U.S. Department of Justice that the deal was anticompetitive and would harm consumers. The ruling, opens new tab by U.S. District Judge William Young in Boston marked a victory for the Biden administration in its efforts to prevent further concentration of the U.S. airline industry and raises questions about the viability of another recently proposed deal, Alaska Air's (ALK.N), opens new tab planned acquisition of Hawaiian Airlines (HA.O), opens new tab. The court's ruling finding the deal violated U.S. antitrust law also called into question Spirit's future. The ultra-low-cost carrier has struggled to turn a profit amid a run-up in operating costs and persistent supply chain problems. Spirit's shares closed down about 47% on Tuesday after the ruling was issued, while JetBlue shares ended about 5% higher. Young said that while a combined JetBlue-Spirit would likely place "stronger competitive pressure" on larger carriers that dominate the domestic airline market, "the consumers that rely on Spirit's unique, low-price model would likely be harmed." He said the deal would eliminate Spirit's low fares and its ability to put pressure on other higher-priced airlines, including JetBlue, to cut prices. Rivals on average cut prices 7% to 11% when Spirit enters a market, he said. "The government has demonstrated that consumers value Spirit flights as a unique, economical product option," Young wrote. "The removal of Spirit as an option for consumers, therefore, would constitute a cognizable harm." U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland in a statement called the ruling "a victory for tens of millions of travelers who would have faced higher fares and fewer choices had the proposed merger between JetBlue and Spirit been allowed to move forward." While Young ruled in the Justice Department's favor, he did not go as far as the government had asked and broadly bar any combination of the two companies, saying he was only going to block the deal "as it currently stands." The judge, who at trial had questioned whether further asset divestitures could make the deal work, said "the courthouse doors remain open should the defendant airlines decide to try again." Some investors and analysts in the past had expressed concerns that Spirit's troubles could hurt JetBlue after the merger. Some analysts had also suggested JetBlue renegotiate the deal, citing the fall in Spirit's share price even before Tuesday's ruling. Illustration shows Spirit Airlines and jetBlue Airways logos Airplane model is placed on displayed Spirit Airlines and jetBlue Airways logos in this illustration taken, June 21, 2022. REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/Illustrations/File Photo Acquire Licensing Rights, opens new tab The airlines can appeal the ruling. In a joint statement, JetBlue and Spirit said they were evaluating "next steps as part of the legal process." They said JetBlue had already "removed any reasonable anti-competitive concerns that the Department of Justice raised." The Justice Department, along with Democratic state attorney generals from six states and the District of Columbia, had argued the JetBlue-Spirit deal would lead to fewer flights and higher prices for millions of Americans. They said that allowing JetBlue to absorb its no-frills, budget rival Spirit would "extinguish a vital source of low-cost competitive disruption along more than 375 routes," causing nearly $1 billion of net harm annually to consumers. JetBlue's lawyers argued that the case was a "misguided" challenge to a merger between the nation's sixth- and seventh- largest airlines, which combined would control 10.2% of a domestic market dominated by four larger airlines. Those four U.S. carriers - United Airlines (UAL.O), opens new tab, American Airlines (AAL.O), opens new tab, Delta Air Lines (DAL.N), opens new tab and Southwest Airlines (LUV.N), opens new tab - control 80% of the market following a series of previous airline mergers that the federal government blessed. Spirit was the first U.S. domestic carrier to allow passengers to pick what features of their flights they pay for, such as checked bags and food and drink service. Its model has pushed competing airlines to slash prices, the Justice Department said. JetBlue is a higher-cost airline than Spirit. But it has historically maintained a low-cost model compared with larger airlines and been able to similarly pressure larger airlines to reduce prices when it enters a new route. The New York-based airline had tried to address U.S. regulators' concerns by agreeing to divest gates and slots at key airports in New York City; Boston; Newark, New Jersey; and Fort Lauderdale, Florida. The Justice Department's case is part of a broader push by the Biden administration to aggressively step up antitrust enforcement, an initiative that has had mixed results in court. JetBlue was already the focus of one of its earlier cases, with a different Boston judge, Leo Sorokin, in May siding with the government in finding that JetBlue's U.S. Northeast partnership with American Airlines violated antitrust law. JetBlue subsequently decided to terminate the alliance. American Airlines is appealing Sorokin's decision. Reporting by Nate Raymond in Boston, David Shepardson in Washington and Rajesh Kumar Singh in Chicago Editing by Alexia Garamfalvi, Anna Driver and Matthew Lewis Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles., opens new tab * * * * * Acquire Licensing Rights [12ff96eb-d] Nate Raymond Thomson Reuters Nate Raymond reports on the federal judiciary and litigation. 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