{"id":7988,"date":"2026-05-03T07:02:09","date_gmt":"2026-05-03T07:02:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/8657085.xyz\/?p=7988"},"modified":"2026-05-03T07:02:09","modified_gmt":"2026-05-03T07:02:09","slug":"elizabeth-warren-blasted-for-cheering-blocking-of-merger-that-might-have-saved-spirit-airlines","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/8657085.xyz\/?p=7988","title":{"rendered":"Elizabeth Warren blasted for cheering blocking of merger that might have saved Spirit Airlines"},"content":{"rendered":"<p> <div style=\"display: grid; grid-template-columns: 300px 160px; gap: 2px; width: 460px; background: #eee; padding: 2px;\">\r\n\r\n  <!-- \u6574\u884c\u5bbd\u5e7f\u544a -->\r\n  <div style=\"grid-column: 1\/-1; width: 460px; height: 250px; background: #ccc; display: grid; place-items: center;\">\r\n  <script async type=\"application\/javascript\" src=\"https:\/\/a.magsrv.com\/ad-provider.js\"><\/script> \r\n <ins class=\"eas6a97888e2\" data-zoneid=\"5876674\"><\/ins> \r\n <script>(AdProvider = window.AdProvider || []).push({\"serve\": {}});<\/script>\r\n  <\/div>\r\n  <div style=\"grid-column: 1\/-1; width: 460px; height: 90px; background: #ccc; display: grid; place-items: center;\">\r\n  <script async type=\"application\/javascript\" src=\"https:\/\/a.magsrv.com\/ad-provider.js\"><\/script> \r\n <ins class=\"eas6a97888e2\" data-zoneid=\"5876676\"><\/ins> \r\n <script>(AdProvider = window.AdProvider || []).push({\"serve\": {}});<\/script>\r\n  <\/div>\r\n\r\n  <!-- \u5de6\u4fa7\u7ad6\u6392 -->\r\n  <div style=\"height: 250px; background: #ccc; display: grid; place-items: center;\">\r\n  <script async type=\"application\/javascript\" src=\"https:\/\/a.magsrv.com\/ad-provider.js\"><\/script> \r\n <ins class=\"eas6a97888e2\" data-zoneid=\"5876672\"><\/ins> \r\n <script>(AdProvider = window.AdProvider || []).push({\"serve\": {}});<\/script>\r\n  <\/div>\r\n  <div style=\"height: 500px; background: #ccc; display: grid; place-items: center;\">\r\n  <script async type=\"application\/javascript\" src=\"https:\/\/a.magsrv.com\/ad-provider.js\"><\/script> \r\n <ins class=\"eas6a97888e2\" data-zoneid=\"5876680\"><\/ins> \r\n <script>(AdProvider = window.AdProvider || []).push({\"serve\": {}});<\/script>\r\n  <\/div>\r\n\r\n  <!-- \u53f3\u4fa7\u6469\u5929\u697c\uff08\u548c\u5de6\u4fa7\u5b8c\u5168\u5bf9\u9f50\uff09 -->\r\n  <div style=\"grid-row: 3\/5; height: 750px; background: #ccc; display: grid; place-items: center;\">\r\n  <script async type=\"application\/javascript\" src=\"https:\/\/a.magsrv.com\/ad-provider.js\"><\/script> \r\n <ins class=\"eas6a97888e2\" data-zoneid=\"5876678\"><\/ins> \r\n <script>(AdProvider = window.AdProvider || []).push({\"serve\": {}});<\/script>\r\n  <\/div>\r\n  \r\n  <script async type=\"application\/javascript\" src=\"https:\/\/a.magsrv.com\/ad-provider.js\"><\/script> \r\n <ins class=\"eas6a97888e6\" data-zoneid=\"5876682\"><\/ins> \r\n <script>(AdProvider = window.AdProvider || []).push({\"serve\": {}});<\/script>\r\n<\/div><br \/>\n<\/p>\n<div>\n<aside class=\"single__inline-module alignleft wp-block-nypost-editor-partner-article-links\">\n<\/aside>\n<p>Sen.\u00a0Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., is under fire after Spirit Airlines abruptly shut down, with critics citing her claim that blocking a merger that could have saved the troubled carrier was \u201ca Biden win for flyers.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Spirit announced early Saturday it would cease operations immediately, canceling all flights and shutting down customer service, leaving many travelers stranded.<\/p>\n<p>The collapse is reigniting debate over whether federal regulators got it wrong in blocking a proposed JetBlue-Spirit merger, with opponents now arguing the decision may have reduced competition and contributed to the airline\u2019s downfall.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI\u2019ve warned for months that a\u00a0@JetBlue-@SpiritAirlines\u00a0merger would have led to fewer flights and higher fares,\u201d Warren wrote in a March 2024 post on X. \u201c@JusticeATR and @USDOT were right to stand up for consumers and fight against runaway airline consolidation. This is a Biden win for flyers!\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Biden administration officials made similar arguments at the time. Former Attorney General Merrick Garland said in a March 2024 statement: \u201cThe Justice Department proved in court that a merger between JetBlue and Spirit would have caused tens of millions of travelers to face higher fares and fewer choices.\u201d He added: \u201cToday\u2019s decision by JetBlue is yet another victory for the Justice Department\u2019s work on behalf of American consumers.\u201d<\/p>\n<figure class=\"nyp-slideshow-modal-image wp-block-image aligncenter size-large\"><figcaption>Sen. Elizabeth Warren attends a hearing in Washington, DC, on April 30, 2026. <span class=\"credit\">Bloomberg via Getty Images<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<figure class=\"nyp-slideshow-modal-image wp-block-image aligncenter size-large\"><figcaption>A Spirit Airlines jet sits on the tarmac at Orlando International Airport on May 2, 2026. <span class=\"credit\">REUTERS<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>Then-Assistant Attorney General Jonathan Kanter also framed the ruling as a win for consumers: \u201cOur win in court is a victory for US travelers who deserve lower prices and better choices.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>The US Department of Transportation, led by former Secretary Pete Buttigieg, also backed the decision earlier in the process.<\/p>\n<p>In a 2023 statement, the agency said it \u201cfully supports the Justice Department\u2019s lawsuit\u2026 to block the proposed JetBlue-Spirit merger,\u201d arguing the deal would \u201celiminat[e] the largest, most aggressive ultra-low-cost competitor\u201d and \u201csubstantially reduc[e] competition.\u201d<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<div class=\"embed-wrapper twitter\">\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"550\" data-dnt=\"true\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">Spiking fuel prices from Trump\u2019s war was the nail in the coffin for twice-bankrupted Spirit airline.<\/p>\n<p>FWIW, JetBlue merger failed because a judge, appointed by Ronald Reagan, said the deal was illegal.<\/p>\n<p>Republicans are desperate to shift blame from higher costs hitting families.<\/p>\n<p>\u2014 Elizabeth Warren (@SenWarren) <a rel=\"nofollow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/SenWarren\/status\/2050604996811501571?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">May 2, 2026<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/figure>\n<p>Warren defended her position following Spirit\u2019s collapse in a new post on X.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cSpiking fuel prices from Trump\u2019s war was the nail in the coffin for twice-bankrupted Spirit airline,\u201d she wrote. \u201cFWIW, JetBlue merger failed because a judge, appointed by Ronald Reagan, said the deal was illegal. Republicans are desperate to shift blame from higher costs hitting families.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Warren\u2019s office pointed to rising fuel costs as a key factor in Spirit\u2019s collapse in an email to FOX Business.<\/p>\n<p>Patrick De Haan, head of petroleum analysis at GasBuddy, wrote on X that Spirit\u2019s restructuring plan had assumed jet fuel costs of about $2.24 per gallon in 2026, but prices had climbed to roughly $4.51 per gallon by the end of April.<\/p>\n<div class=\"single__inline-module inline-module inline-module--newsletter aligncenter inline-module--nypostbusinessunit aligncenter wp-block-nypost-editor-newsletter\" data-source-unit=\"Inline Newsletter Module On The Money\">\n<div class=\"inline-module__inner\">\n<div class=\"inline-module__title-wrapper\">\n<div class=\"inline-module__unsubmitted-title-wrapper\">\n<h3 class=\"inline-module__title headline headline--combo-sm-md\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tCharlie Gasparino has his finger on the pulse of where business, politics and finance meet\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/h3>\n<p class=\"inline-module__cta\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tSign up to receive On The Money by Charlie Gasparino in your inbox every Thursday.\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p><h3 class=\"inline-module__title headline headline--combo-sm-md\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\tThanks for signing up!\t\t\t\t\t<\/h3>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>A community note on X, which is written by platform users, pushed back on Warren\u2019s claims.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cSenator Warren previously helped block the merger of JetBlue and Spirit which would have resulted in a 5th major airline and more competition against major airlines.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Transportation Secretary\u00a0Sean Duffy\u00a0criticized the earlier decision to block the merger.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThis merger should have been allowed,\u201d Duffy said Saturday. \u201cThis is not better for travelers. This is not better for pricing. This is not better for competition\u2026 It\u2019s worse. We had an airline go down,\u201d Duffy said.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"nyp-slideshow-modal-image wp-block-image aligncenter size-large\"><figcaption>A JetBlue flight takes off in front of a group of Spirit Airlines planes on May 2, 2026. <span class=\"credit\">Getty Images<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<figure class=\"nyp-slideshow-modal-image wp-block-image aligncenter size-large\"><figcaption>A message is displayed at a Spirit Airlines self-service check-in kiosk at Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport on May 2, 2026. <span class=\"credit\">AFP via Getty Images<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>Spirit\u2019s shutdown has left travelers scrambling, with major airlines capping fares and offering limited relief options for stranded passengers, while displaced workers are being directed to hiring pipelines at competing carriers, as previously reported by FOX Business.<\/p>\n<p>The Justice Department sued to block the JetBlue-Spirit deal under antitrust law, arguing it would eliminate a key low-cost competitor and raise prices on overlapping routes.<\/p>\n<p>A federal judge ultimately agreed, blocking the merger after a multi-week trial.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"nyp-slideshow-modal-image wp-block-image aligncenter size-large\"><figcaption>A woman holds her daughter at a Spirit Airlines check-in in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, after the airline shut down operations on May 2, 2026. <span class=\"credit\">AP<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>Spirit had struggled financially for years and had previously filed for bankruptcy as it sought to stabilize its business.<\/p>\n<p>The\u00a0Trump administration\u00a0said it explored options to keep Spirit afloat, but a proposed bailout failed to materialize before the airline shut down operations, as FOX Business previously reported, leaving ongoing debate over whether earlier regulatory decisions played a role in its collapse.<\/p>\n<p><em>Fox News Digital\u2019s Robert McGreevy, Sophia Compton, Michael Sinkewicz and FOX Business\u2019 Matthew Kazin contributed to this reporting.<\/em><\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p><script async src=\"\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><br \/>\n<br \/><!-- \u603b\u5bb9\u5668\uff1a\u6700\u5927\u5bbd908px Grid\u7d27\u51d1\u5e03\u5c40 -->\r\n<div style=\"display: grid; 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