Event
Ruling blocking JetBlue’s purchase of Spirit, 2024
On 16 January 2024 a federal judge ruled that JetBlue’s agreed purchase of Spirit would violate Section 7 of the Clayton Act and enjoined it. The airlines had argued Spirit was struggling financially and the merged firm would be a stronger rival to the big four; the court said JetBlue was far from the only available purchaser should Spirit fall into dire need. Spirit stopped flying in May 2026.
- Dates
- 16 Jan 2024
On 16 January 2024 a federal judge ruled that JetBlue’s agreed purchase of Spirit would violate Section 7 of the Clayton Act and enjoined it. The airlines had argued Spirit was struggling financially and the merged firm would be a stronger rival to the big four; the court said JetBlue was far from the only available purchaser should Spirit fall into dire need. Spirit stopped flying in May 2026.
Connections 4
involved
- JetBlue Airways defendant; enjoined from the merger Primary record 1
- American Airlines one of the “Big Four” the court named: Delta, American, United and Southwest; not a party Primary record 1
- U.S. Department of Justice plaintiff, with states; won Primary record 1
- Spirit Airlines the acquisition target, a low-fare airline Primary record 1
Timeline 1 date
- 16 Jan 2024 Ruling blocking JetBlue’s purchase of Spirit, 2024
Proof 1 source
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United States v. JetBlue Airways Corp. and Spirit Airlines, Inc., Findings of Fact and Conclusions of Law, No. 23-10511 (D. Mass., 16 January 2024), U.S. District Court for the District of Massachusetts, 16 Jan 2024.
Primary record
therefore, the Court rules that the proposed acquisition violates Section 7 of the Clayton Act.
with evidence that Spirit is struggling financially, suggesting that the proposed acquisition would in fact protect consumers from facing a weakened, failing Spirit
JetBlue is also far from the only available purchaser, should Spirit find itself in dire need.
These four airlines control 80% of the industry (with the next largest airline, Alaska Airlines, garnering 6% of airline revenue in the United States).
A post-merger, combined firm of JetBlue and Spirit would likely place stronger competitive pressure on the larger airlines in the country.
Spirit is a small airline. But there are those who love it.
Page history 3 changes
- Second revision of Too Big to Fail: the FTC's 1917 finding, the 1952 report's seven firms, the 1984 hearing record, and corrected cards for Spirit, beef, tickets, Google and the final verdict05663c47
- Revise Too Big to Fail after the skeptic's review: read to 2 November 2026, a verdict card that separates findings from shares, the 1929 fight with its scandal and the board's stand, and sources for every cardc819f2cb
- Add the story Too Big to Fail: Standard Oil's stockholders, the phrase's origin in 1984, and market-by-market cases to November 2026aa9c434d
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