On January 16th local time, William G. Young, a federal district court in Massachusetts, USA, blocked JetBlue Airways from acquiring Spirit Airlines for $3.8 billion, stating that the merger would stifle competition, harm consumer interests, and drive up ticket prices across the industry.
The two airlines responded in a joint statement that the merger is the only way for small airlines to effectively compete with dominant airlines, and are "evaluating the next steps as part of the legal process.".
In July 2022, JetBlue Airways announced a cash acquisition agreement for Spirit Airlines, with a purchase price of $33.50 per share and a total price of $3.8 billion.