Spirit and JetBlue planes at Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport (FLL) in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, US, on Wednesday, Nov. 1, 2023.
Eva Marie Uzcategui | Bloomberg | Getty Images
JetBlue Airways and Spirit Airlines on Friday said they are appealing a federal judge’s ruling issued earlier this week that blocks the two carriers’ planned merger on antitrust grounds.
JetBlue had planned to buy Spirit for $3.8 billion in a deal struck in the summer of 2022. A federal judge on Tuesday, however, barred that combination, saying it would eliminate the budget carrier and mean higher prices for cost-conscious consumers.
Spirit shares extended gains posted during the regular session on Friday, rising more than 10% in after-hours trading, while JetBlue’s were little changed.
This is breaking news. Please check back for updates.
