JetBlue strikes $3.8 billion deal to buy Spirit Airlines
PBS NewsHourAPR 2022
Regulators are going to have to take a close look at this deal, which undoubtedly is going to lead to one major thing for consumers: higher airfares. Even if you don't fly Spirit or Frontier, their presence on certain routes forces other airlines to lower their prices. The elimination of Spirit will remove that incentive.
Spirit finally came to its senses and accepted JetBlue's offer, which was much richer than anything it could've received from Frontier. Gaining regulatory approval will be difficult, but if JetBlue and Spirit make some concessions, they'll get this deal through. Then the "Big Four" will finally have some true competition.