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☆ Spirit Airlines shares extend rebound after it appeals ruling blocking JetBlue merger
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-22 | by ( Ryan Anastasio | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

Spirit and JetBlue planes at Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport (FLL) in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, US, on Wednesday, Nov. 1, 2023. "Our merger agreement with Spirit remains in effect and we still have obligations under the agreement. This is a standard procedure, required under the merger agreement," JetBlue General Counsel Brandon Nelson said in a note to staff Friday. The stock had dropped more than 60% after the ruling but has rebounded slightly following the appeal and after Spirit raised raised its financial forecast for the fourth quarter of 2023. JetBlue shares rose about 1% on Monday and have climbed more than 3% since its merger with Sprit was blocked.

Persons: Brandon Nelson, William Young, Young, Spirit, Sprit Organizations: JetBlue, Hollywood International, Spirit Airlines, Spirit, U.S, CNBC PRO Locations: Fort Lauderdale, Fort Lauderdale , Florida

☆ Why the JetBlue-Spirit antitrust ruling doesn't spell doom for an Alaska-Hawaiian merger
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-19 | by ( Leslie Josephs | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Alaska and Hawaiian Airlines planes takeoff at the same time from San Francisco International Airport (SFO) in San Francisco, California, United States on June 21, 2023. President Joe Biden's Justice Department has successfully had two airline link-ups halted in court in recent months. That doesn't necessarily spell doom for Alaska Air's plan to buy Hawaiian Airlines . The decision immediately sparked questions of whether an Alaska-Hawaiian combination would suffer a similar fate in an antitrust lawsuit. The Justice Department didn't immediately respond to a request for comment about whether it plans to challenge Alaska and Hawaiian's proposed deal.

Persons: Joe Biden's, William Young, Michael Linenberg, Department didn't, Hawaiian's, Herbert Hovenkamp Organizations: Hawaiian Airlines, San Francisco International Airport, Department, Hawaiian Airlines . U.S, Justice Department, JetBlue Airways, Spirit Airlines, Deutsche Bank, JetBlue, University of Pennsylvania's Carey Law School, Spirit Locations: Alaska, San Francisco , California, United States, Hawaiian Airlines ., Hawaii

☆ JetBlue to cut some routes as it pushes for profitability
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-19 | by ( Leslie Josephs | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

JetBlue Airways told staff this week that it will cut some routes and service as it struggles to return to profitability and grapples with the fallout of its blocked plan to buy Spirit Airlines . The airline is instead focusing on leisure routes, adding service throughout the Caribbean and to Paris, the memo said. "We constantly adjust our network to support our strategy and these recent changes are a necessary quick step to help return our business to profitability," JetBlue said. "All the routes included have recently underperformed our expectations and these changes come as post-COVID travel patterns continue to evolve." JetBlue ranked 9th in on-time arrivals among U.S. airlines in the first 10 months of 2023, according to the Transportation Department.

Persons: John F, Dave Jehn, Jehn, William Young's Organizations: JetBlue Airways, Spirit Airlines, JetBlue, Kennedy, CNBC, Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport, Washington D.C, Transportation Department, CNBC PRO Locations: New, Portland , Oregon, San Jose , California, Westchester , New York, New York, Ponce , Puerto Rico, Milwaukee , Wisconsin, Caribbean, Paris, Baltimore, Washington

☆ Analyst: Spirit Airlines could be forced out of business after JetBlue deal is blocked
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-18 | by ( Chris Isidore | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +7 min

New York CNN —Spirit Airlines could end up in bankruptcy and be forced out of business because of a federal court decision to block a proposed sale to JetBlue Airways, according to a note from an airline analyst. “We believe Spirit will first look for an alternative buyer, but another airline may get the same pushback [from antitrust regulators. Its fares prompted major airlines to offer a certain number of no-frills “basic economy” seats on their planes. It also prompted concerns that its purchase by JetBlue would lead to higher fares across the industry — concerns which resulted in the Justice Department’s antitrust case that blocked the deal. “While we are disappointed with this [court decision] outcome, we are confident in our strengths and strategy,” said a company statement sent to CNN.

Persons: Helane Becker, Cowen, “, ”, Becker, General Merrick Garland, Pete Buttigieg, ” Buttigieg, Fitch, it’s, William Young Organizations: New, New York CNN — Spirit, JetBlue Airways, JetBlue, Transportation, Refinitiv, JPMorgan Chase, CNN, Airbus, Boeing, lessors, Federal, Spirit Locations: New York, Spirit’s, U.S

☆ Spirit Airlines shares sink 20% in second day of losses after judge blocks JetBlue merger
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-17 | by ( Ryan Anastasio | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

JetBlue Airways planes are seen near Spirit Airlines planes at the Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, on May 16, 2022. Shares of Spirit Airlines fell about 23% Wednesday, its second day of double-digit losses, after a judge blocked its proposed merger with JetBlue Airways . "JetBlue plans to convert Spirit's planes to the JetBlue layout and charge JetBlue's higher average fares to its customers," U.S. District Court Judge William Young wrote in his decision. "The elimination of Spirit would harm cost-conscious travelers who rely on Spirit's low fares." Shares of JetBlue fell about 8% Wednesday and are down about 3% since the judge blocked the merger.

Persons: William Young Organizations: JetBlue Airways, Airlines, Fort, Hollywood International, Spirit Airlines, JetBlue, Wall Street, CNBC PRO Locations: Fort Lauderdale, Fort Lauderdale , Florida, U.S

A sale to JetBlue represented a lifeline for Spirit, which faces $1.1 billion in debt maturing next year. But a federal judge in Boston scuttled that plan by ruling Tuesday that JetBlue’s $3.8 billion proposal to buy Spirit violates antitrust law. But Frontier has its own challenges and is in no position to renew merger discussions with Spirit now, Baker said. Like Spirit, JetBlue has not had a profitable year since 2019, before the pandemic. Investors are also trying to gauge what the ruling against the JetBlue-Spirit deal means for Alaska Airlines' pending proposal to buy Hawaiian Airlines.

Persons: Airlines hasn’t, haven’t, William Young's, ”, Helane Becker, Cowen, “, Jamie Baker wasn’t, ” Baker, Baker, Judge Young, Young, Robin Hayes –, Biden, hasn't, Michael Linenberg Organizations: Airlines, JetBlue, Justice Department, Bank of America, Pratt & Whitney, Airbus, Frontier Airlines, –, Investors, Alaska Airlines, Hawaiian Airlines, Deutsche Bank, Spirit, American Airlines Locations: Boston, Miramar , Florida, Alaska

☆ Judge blocks JetBlue's $3.8 billion acquisition of Spirit, saying the deal would reduce airline competition
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-16 | by ( Associated Press | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +1 min

Read previewA federal judge is siding with the Biden administration and blocking JetBlue Airways from buying Spirit Airlines, saying the $3.8 billion deal would reduce competition. This story is available exclusively to Business Insider subscribers. The Justice Department sued to block the merger, saying it would drive up fares by eliminating Spirit, the nation's biggest low-cost airline. JetBlue argued that the deal would help consumers by making JetBlue a stronger competitor against bigger rivals that dominate the U.S. air-travel market. AdvertisementShares of Spirit Airlines Inc. plunged more than 53% almost immediately.

Persons: —, Biden, William Young Organizations: Service, JetBlue Airways, Spirit Airlines, Business, The Justice, JetBlue, Spirit Airlines Inc Locations: U.S

☆ Judge blocks JetBlue-Spirit merger after DOJ's antitrust challenge
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-16 | by ( Leslie Josephs | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

LaGuardia International Airport Terminal A for JetBlue and Spirit Airlines in New York. A federal judge blocked JetBlue Airways ' purchase of budget rival Spirit Airlines after the Justice Department sued to stop the merger, alleging it would drive up fares for some of the most price-sensitive consumers. "JetBlue plans to convert Spirit's planes to the JetBlue layout and charge JetBlue's higher average fares to its customers," U.S. District Court Judge William Young wrote in his decision. "The elimination of Spirit would harm cost-conscious travelers who rely on Spirit's low fares." Spirit shares plunged after the ruling and were down more than 50%, while JetBlue's stock gained about 5%.

Persons: JetBlue's, William Young Organizations: LaGuardia, JetBlue, Spirit Airlines, JetBlue Airways, Justice Department, DOJ Locations: New York, Delta, U.S

DALLAS (AP) — A federal judge is siding with the Biden administration and blocking JetBlue Airways from buying Spirit Airlines, saying the $3.8 billion deal would reduce competition. The Justice Department sued to block the merger, saying it would drive up fares by eliminating Spirit, the nation’s biggest low-cost airline. Shares of Spirit Airlines Inc. plunged more than half almost immediately, while JetBlue shares gained 8%. Another judge in the same Boston courthouse killed a partnership in the Northeast between JetBlue and American Airlines. Tuesday's ruling could open the door for Frontier Airlines to make another attempt to buy Spirit.

Persons: Biden, William Young, ” Young, Joanna Geraghty, Robin Hayes, Tuesday's Organizations: DALLAS, —, JetBlue Airways, Spirit Airlines, The Justice, JetBlue, New, Justice Department, Spirit Airlines Inc, American Airlines, Frontier Airlines Locations: New York, U.S, Boston, Florida

NEW YORK (AP) — The prospect of a JetBlue-Spirit Airlines merger took a major hit in court on Tuesday when a federal judge sided with the Biden administration and blocked the $3.8 billion deal. The judge ruled that JetBlue's purchase of Spirit, the nation's largest low-cost airline, would harm competition — and increase prices for air travelers as a result. The Justice Department and several state attorneys general sued to block the merger last year — arguing that it would drive up fares by eliminating low-cost Spirit. With no merger in sight, the status quo for both JetBlue and Spirit remains — meaning air travelers shouldn't expect major changes anytime soon. In the past, the Justice Department has faced criticism for greenlighting a wave of mergers.

Persons: Biden, William Young, Ronald Reagan, General Merrick Garland Organizations: JetBlue, Spirit Airlines, JETBLUE, Justice Department, Young, Justice, Spirit, Frontier Airlines, Alaska Airlines, Hawaiian Airlines, Southwest Locations: Boston, Florida, Delta, United

☆ Spirit Airlines shares plunge after judge blocks JetBlue merger
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-16 | by ( Krystal Hur | Chris Isidore | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

New York CNN —Spirit Airlines shares tanked 52% on Tuesday after a federal judge in Boston ruled against JetBlue’s proposed $3.8 billion acquisition of the discount airline. The Biden administration has argued since taking office there needs to be greater competition between businesses, especially in the airline industry, to lower costs for consumers. “If not blocked, the merger of JetBlue and Spirit would result in higher fares and fewer choices for tens of millions of travelers across the country. The Biden administration has taken a much more aggressive approach in fighting mergers and combinations, including in the airline industry. There is one other merger now being sought in the US airline industry, a proposed $1.9 billion deal to combine Alaska Airlines and Hawaiian Airlines.

Persons: JetBlue’s, ”, William Young, Biden, General Merrick Garland Organizations: New, New York CNN — Spirit Airlines, Defendant Airlines, JetBlue, CNN, US Justice Department, Spirit, The Justice, “ Companies, — American Airlines, United, Delta Air Lines, Southwest Airlines, Northeast, Alaska Airlines, Hawaiian Airlines, Hawaiian Holdings Locations: New York, Boston, American, Northeast United States

U.S. District Judge William Young told a JetBlue lawyer that he expected airline fares would rise if no-frills, ultra-low-cost Spirit no longer was around to "undercut everyone else" and drive down prices. The four largest U.S. carriers - United Airlines (UAL.O), American Airlines (AAL.O), Delta Air Lines (DAL.N) and Southwest Airlines (LUV.N) - control 80% of the domestic market. JetBlue and Spirit combined control about 8%, according to their lawyers. Duffy said allowing JetBlue's, the sixth-largest U.S. airline, and Spirit, the seventh-largest, to merge would result in higher prices and fewer flights once lower-cost Spirit was no longer competing. Reporting by Nate Raymond in Boston; Editing by Will DUnhma, Mark Porter and Alexia GaramfalviOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Department's, William Young, Young, Edward Duffy, Duffy, Ryan Shores, Joe Biden's, Shores, JetBlue's, Nate Raymond, Will DUnhma, Mark Porter, Alexia Garamfalvi Organizations: BOSTON, ., JetBlue Airways, Spirit Airlines, JetBlue, Justice Department, District of Columbia, Justice, U.S, United Airlines, American Airlines, Delta Air Lines, Southwest Airlines, Spirit, U.S ., Thomson Locations: U.S, Boston, New York City, Newark , New Jersey, Fort Lauderdale , Florida

A Justice Department lawyer argued that the deal would push fares higher by 30% and leave fewer options for travelers on a budget. Duffy, the Justice Department lawyer, tried to close the door on more divestitures. If Spirit is acquired by JetBlue, Frontier would become the biggest discount carrier in the U.S., followed by Allegiant Air and new entrants Breeze and Avelo. The Justice Department has not indicated whether it will challenge that deal. Spirit agreed to merge with Frontier Airlines, which shares its ultra-low-cost business model, but JetBlue beat Frontier in a bidding war.

Persons: —, Ryan Shores, ”, ” Shores, U.S . Justice Department's, Edward Duffy, Duffy, ” Duffy, William Young, Young, Ronald Reagan, Shores, “, Biden, David Koenig Organizations: BOSTON, JetBlue Airways, U.S, JetBlue, Spirit Airlines, U.S . Justice, Justice, Frontier Airlines, Spirit, New, Justice Department, American Airlines, Frontier, Allegiant Air, Avelo, Alaska Airlines, Hawaiian Airlines, Department, Southwest, AP Locations: ”, Boston, New York City, Fort Lauderdale, Fla, New York, U.S, Sunday, Alaska, Delta, United, Dallas

[1/2] Airplane model is placed on displayed Spirit Airlines and jetBlue Airways logos in this illustration taken, June 21, 2022. JetBlue CEO Robin Hayes defended the deal being challenged by the U.S. Department of Justice in federal court in Boston, saying a merger was the only way to grow JetBlue into a long-term national challenger to the dominant airlines. "You'd never ever get to the size they are based on organic growth," he testified under questioning by JetBlue lawyer Ryan Shores. The Justice Department counters that passengers would suffer roughly $1 billion in net harm annually if JetBlue absorbs Spirit, causing fares to rise. The trial is a rarity for the Justice Department, which historically has approved airline mergers without trials conditioned on asset divestitures.

Persons: Dado Ruvic, Robin Hayes, Hayes, You'd, Ryan Shores, Edward Duffy, JetBlue, District William Young, Nate Raymond, Alexia Garamfalvi Organizations: Airlines, jetBlue Airways, REUTERS, Rights BOSTON, JetBlue Airways, Spirit Airlines, U.S, JetBlue, U.S . Department of Justice, The Justice Department, Democratic, District of Columbia, United Airlines, American Airlines, Delta Air Lines, Southwest Airlines, Department, District, Justice Department, Thomson Locations: Boston, New York City, Newark , New Jersey, Fort Lauderdale . U.S

BOSTON, Nov 1 (Reuters) - The CEO of Spirit Airlines on Wednesday defended in court the planned $3.8 billion acquisition of his company by JetBlue Airways as a means to create a viable competitor to the four larger airlines that dominate the U.S. skies. Ted Christie, Spirit's chief executive officer, during the second day of trial in the U.S. Department of Justice's lawsuit challenging the merger testified that his ultra-low-cost airline remained "relatively insignificant" despite years of growth. He said Spirit, which has not turned a profit in three years, had just around 3% of the market and was facing "more effective" competition from those larger airlines - United Airlines, American Airlines, Delta Air Lines and Southwest Airlines - in the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic. Christie testified that throughout the negotiations for the deal in 2022, Spirit had been concerned how regulators would view a merger with JetBlue, as the Justice Department had already sued JetBlue to challenge a planned Northeast partnership with American Airlines. Reporting by Nate Raymond in Boston, Editing by Alexia Garamfalvi and Nick ZieminskiOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Ted Christie, Christie, Spirit, Jay Cohen, William Young, Nate Raymond, Alexia Garamfalvi, Nick Zieminski Organizations: BOSTON, Spirit Airlines, JetBlue Airways, U.S . Department of, Spirit, United Airlines, American Airlines, Delta Air Lines, Southwest Airlines, JetBlue, Frontier Group Holdings, U.S, Justice Department, Democratic, District of Columbia, Thomson Locations: U.S, Boston, New York City, Newark, Fort Lauderdale

[1/2] 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 RightsBOSTON, Oct 31 (Reuters) - The U.S. Department of Justice heads to trial on Tuesday to urge a federal judge to block JetBlue Airways' (JBLU.O) planned $3.8 billion acquisition of ultra-low-cost carrier Spirit Airlines. The trial will take place without a jury over about three weeks before U.S. District Judge William Young. A merger between JetBlue and Spirit, the sixth and seventh largest U.S. carriers, respectively, would mark the first major U.S. airline combination since Alaska Airlines bought Virgin America in 2016. The Justice Department alleges the merger would eliminate the pressure larger airlines, including JetBlue, face to lower their fares in response to competition from Spirit and cost consumers over $2 billion in higher fares annually.

Persons: Dado Ruvic, Joe Biden's, William Young, Young, Biden, Leo Sorokin, Nate Raymond, Alexia Garamfalvi, Nick Zieminski Organizations: Airlines, jetBlue Airways, REUTERS, Rights, U.S . Department of Justice, JetBlue Airways, Spirit Airlines, U.S, JetBlue, Spirit, Alaska Airlines, Virgin America, United Airlines, American Airlines, Delta Air Lines, Justice Department, Department, Democratic, District of Columbia, The, Big, American, Thomson Locations: Boston, U.S, New York City, Newark, Fort Lauderdale

U.S. District Judge William Young in Boston was randomly assigned the case despite the Justice Department's contention that the lawsuit should be heard by another judge who is overseeing a separate antitrust case involving JetBlue. The Justice Department on Tuesday argued that Sorokin should hear the Spirit case as well because both involved "an assessment of JetBlue's network plans, aircraft orders and configurations, and pricing strategy." Sorokin, an appointee of Democratic former President Barack Obama, on Wednesday in a brief order said the Spirit case was wrongly assigned to him because it was "incorrectly marked as related and thus not randomly assigned." The Justice Department and JetBlue declined to comment. In the case filed on Tuesday, the Justice Department said the merger of JetBlue and Spirit would "combine two especially close and fierce head-to-head competitors."

☆ How to make 6 figures on Taskrabbit, according to 4 top-rated users
▼ + stars: | 2022-07-19 | by ( Ann Matica | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

Then, he hired someone from Taskrabbit to help him move and found out how lucrative work through the site could be. To make the most profit possible while completing tasks, Young plans his routes the night before and abides by a tight schedule during the day. Read more: I'm a 23-year-old who's made more than $130,000 on TaskRabbit this year — here's howRead more: I've made more than $155,000 on TaskRabbit this year. When money started to get tight and Garcia was close to getting evicted in 2019, she turned to Taskrabbit work full-time. Read more: I make $7,000 a month on Taskrabbit doing odd jobs like event planning, gift wrapping, and organizing closets.

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