JetBlue and Spirit said it'd be best if they remain separate companies as they don't believe they'll be able to merge by the time the agreement is up in July.
JetBlue, the nation's sixth-largest airline, sought to buy Spirit for $3.8 billion. The judge said "the consumers that rely on Spirit's unique, low-price model would likely be harmed."
The Biden administration sued on Tuesday to block the $3.8 billion purchase, saying the deal would reduce competition and drive up air fares for consumers.
NPR's Leila Fadel speaks with Diana Moss, president of American Antitrust Institute, about actions the Department of Justice may take to block the Spirit Airlines-JetBlue merger.
The agreement Thursday capped a months-long bidding war and arrives one day after Spirit's attempt to merge with Frontier Airlines fell apart. The deal still needs approval from antitrust regulators.
