Federal Judge Blocks JetBlue-Spirit Merger Over Fears of Eliminating Competition

A federal judge on Tuesday blocked JetBlue Airways’ $3.8 billion deal to buy Spirit Airlines, rejecting a merger that he said would hamper competition and lead to higher fares.

The ruling thwarts what would have been the biggest U.S. airline merger in over a decade. It marks a victory for the U.S. Department of Justice, which sued last year to prevent JetBlue and Spirit from going ahead with their tie-up.

A federal judge on Tuesday blocked JetBlue Airways’ $3.8 billion deal to buy Spirit Airlines, rejecting a merger that he said would hamper competition and lead to higher fares.

The ruling thwarts what would have been the biggest U.S. airline merger in over a decade. It marks a victory for the U.S. Department of Justice, which sued last year to prevent JetBlue and Spirit from going ahead with their tie-up.