Spirit Airlines' ondergang: gevolgen voor concurrentie en luchtvaartmarkt

The U.S. Department of Justice blocked JetBlue's acquisition of Spirit Airlines in 2023, citing antitrust concerns. Spirit subsequently collapsed and ceased operations, prompting debate about whether the antitrust decision was correct. The author, a DOJ attorney involved in the case, argues the outcome was not inevitable, noting Spirit had alternative merger options and executives predicted standalone profitability. Rising fuel costs from geopolitical tensions ultimately made Spirit's low-cost model unsustainable, suggesting factors beyond the blocked merger contributed to the airline's