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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

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