JetBlue’s Spirit deal turning into a nightmare

Turbulent times: A JetBlue plane (left) passes a Spirit Airlines Airbus A320 as it taxis on the runway at the Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport. A federal judge on Tuesday blocked JetBlue’s planned acquisition of Spirit. — Reuters

NEW YORK: It was supposed to be the merger from heaven – or at least, from 30,000 feet.

But now, the collapse of the US$3.8bil deal between JetBlue Airways Corp and Spirit Airlines Inc over antitrust concerns leaves the two carriers adrift, upending the low-cost travel sector and tarnishing the legacy of JetBlue’s swashbuckling CEO as he heads for the exit.