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Spirit Airlines Seeks Delay of United-JetBlue Partnership Review Over Antitrust Concerns

By  |  June 25, 2025

Spirit Airlines is calling on federal regulators to hit pause on a proposed partnership between United Airlines and JetBlue Airways, warning that the deal could undermine competition and drive up airfare across the industry. The low-cost carrier filed a formal request Tuesday asking the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) to extend its review and public comment period by 60 days, citing serious antitrust concerns.

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    According to Bloomberg, the partnership—dubbed “Blue Sky”—was unveiled on May 29 and represents the first significant airline tie-up proposed since President Donald Trump’s reelection. Spirit argues that more time is needed to “properly and carefully” examine the competitive risks posed by the agreement.

    The Blue Sky alliance comes in the wake of a broader crackdown on airline consolidation under the Biden administration, which previously led to the collapse of both a merger attempt between Spirit and JetBlue, and a separate partnership between JetBlue and American Airlines. In both cases, federal courts sided with regulators who said the deals would violate antitrust law.

    Related: Spirit Airlines CEO Steps Down After Failed JetBlue Merger and Bankruptcy Exit

    Per Bloomberg, United and JetBlue claim that their new arrangement avoids the legal pitfalls of past deals. However, Spirit contends that Blue Sky is functionally similar to the now-defunct Northeast Alliance between American and JetBlue, which was struck down due to concerns over its impact on consumer choice and competition. In its filing, Spirit said the Blue Sky plan would give United undue influence over JetBlue’s network strategy, further entrenching the dominance of major carriers at key hubs like New York and Boston.

    Spirit warned that the partnership would likely siphon off passengers from discount airlines, making it harder for budget carriers to compete. It also suggested that other industry giants, such as Delta Air Lines and American Airlines, would be prompted to pursue similar deals, leading to what it described as “an even more highly concentrated industry,” according to Bloomberg.

    Source: Bloomberg