The Justice Department has sued to block JetBlue’s $3.8 billion acquisition of Spirit Airlines. It’s the first time in over two decades the U.S. government has intervened to block an airline merger and is the latest antitrust action from the Biden administration. This is Vanita Gupta, associate attorney general.

Vanita Gupta: “Ultra-low cost carriers like Spirit play a key role in the economy. They make air travel possible so more Americans can take a hard-earned family vacation or celebrate and mourn together with loved ones. We allege that the proposed merger would lead to fewer seats and higher prices for travelers. And we allege that the proposed merger would heighten the risk that remaining airlines would coordinate to raise prices.”