Former top Biden official all but admits admin killed Spirit Airlines by rejecting JetBlue merger
Spirit Airlines ceased operations on May 2, 2026, after failing to secure a merger or bailout, leading to thousands of job losses. Neera Tanden, a former Biden advisor, questioned whether the Justice Department's rejection of the JetBlue-Spirit merger was the right decision. Senator Elizabeth Warren, who had previously opposed the merger, faced criticism for her stance as the airline collapsed.
- ▪Spirit Airlines shut down on May 2, 2026, after years of financial struggles and failed merger negotiations.
- ▪The Biden administration's Justice Department, led by Merrick Garland, blocked JetBlue's $3.8 billion acquisition of Spirit Airlines in 2024.
- ▪Neera Tanden publicly questioned the decision to block the merger, suggesting it may have saved Spirit and its employees.
- ▪Elizabeth Warren opposed the JetBlue-Spirit merger, arguing it would reduce competition and raise fares.
- ▪The war in Iran contributed to rising jet fuel prices, worsening Spirit Airlines' financial condition.
Opening excerpt (first ~120 words) tap to expand
Politics Ex-Biden official all but admits admin killed Spirit airlines by rejecting JetBlue merger By Ryan King Published May 3, 2026, 10:25 a.m. ET That’s the spirit. A top Biden official has all but admitted that the Democratic administration’s Justice Department sealed Spirit Airlines’ fate when it rejected a merger request — and suggested it was the wrong choice after the ultralow-cost airline shut down Saturday morning. Neera Tanden, who previously served as a senior advisor to former President Joe Biden, wondered whether a merger could have prevented the mass job losses. Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), meanwhile, tried to blame Spirit’s failure on President Trump — only to be called out for helping to kill the tieup with JetBlue.
…
Excerpt limited to ~120 words for fair-use compliance. The full article is at New York Post.
Discussion
0 commentsMore from New York Post
