US judge blocks JetBlue from $3.8bn Spirit Airlines takeover

Ruling marks victory for Biden government and its effort to preserve lower cost airline tickets for American consumers

A federal judge has blocked JetBlue Airways' $3.8bn takeover of the budget carrier Spirit Airlines, agreeing with the US Department of Justice that the deal would knock competition and limit the availability of low-priced tickets.

William Young, a US district judge in Boston, concluded that passengers who rely on Spirit's cheaper fares would likely be harmed" by the acquisition. His ruling - a victory for the Biden administration - raises questions over other planned deals in the airline sector.