{"id":2598040,"date":"2026-05-02T12:56:02","date_gmt":"2026-05-02T16:56:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/after-spirit-airlines-goes-bust-remember-how-biden-warren-stopped-merger-to-save-airline-because-itd-mean-fewer-flights\/"},"modified":"2026-05-02T12:58:19","modified_gmt":"2026-05-02T16:58:19","slug":"after-spirit-airlines-goes-bust-remember-how-biden-warren-stopped-merger-to-save-airline-because-itd-mean-fewer-flights","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/after-spirit-airlines-goes-bust-remember-how-biden-warren-stopped-merger-to-save-airline-because-itd-mean-fewer-flights\/","title":{"rendered":"After Spirit Airlines Goes Bust, Remember How Biden, Warren Stopped Merger to Save Airline Because It&#8217;d Mean &#8216;Fewer Flights&#8217;"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"float:left\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">38<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fafter-spirit-airlines-goes-bust-remember-how-biden-warren-stopped-merger-to-save-airline-because-itd-mean-fewer-flights%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2598040&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>Spirit Airlines is described as collapsing in a familiar pattern seen across many airlines after deregulation: early momentum, aggressive expansion, unsustainable debt, and eventual failure. The article argues that Spirit\u2019s troubles were worsened by COVID, its <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/anheuser-busch-workers-could-start-2024-on-strike\/\" title=\"Anheuser-Busch workers may strike in 2024\">damaged brand reputation<\/a>, and a government bailout effort that ultimately fell apart.It claims Spirit began winding down global operations and was preparing to stop flights shortly after early May 2,2026,after cash ran out.<\/p>\n<p>It further argues that the main \u201cfix\u201d would have been a merger with JetBlue, which it says had been proposed (including details about fleet and network complementarity) and would have created a <a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/3YuVZYV\" >larger <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/us-senator-concerned-american-jetblue-partnership-will-raise-prices\/\" title=\"US ...ator Concerned American, ... Partnership Will Raise ...\">low-cost carrier<\/a><\/a>.However, the article blames Democratic officials-especially the Biden administration and antitrust enforcement-alongside regulators such as the FTC and Sen.Elizabeth Warren, for blocking that merger. The piece contends that blocking the deal left consumers with fewer options and higher fares potential, contributed to job losses, and made it worse rather than better-framing spirit\u2019s shutdown as a consequence of those political decisions rather than purely business mismanagement.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><br \/>\n<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC \"-\/\/W3C\/\/DTD HTML 4.0 Transitional\/\/EN\" \"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/TR\/REC-html40\/loose.dtd\"><br \/>\n<?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><html><body><\/p>\n<section> \t\t\t\t<script>console.log(\"ad slot (AC1)\")<\/script><script>console.log(\"ad slot (IC1)\")<\/script><script>console.log(\"ad slot (IC2)\")<\/script><script>console.log(\"ad slot (IC3)\")<\/script><script>console.log(\"ad slot (IC4)\")<\/script><script>console.log(\"ad slot (REP_0)\")<\/script><script>console.log(\"ad slot (REP_1)\")<\/script><script>console.log(\"ad slot (REP_2)\")<\/script><script>console.log(\"ad slot (REP_3)\")<\/script><script>console.log(\"ad slot (REP_4)\")<\/script><\/p>\n<p>The demise of Spirit Airlines is that of the demise of countless other carriers since the beginning of airline deregulation in the 1970s, from Braniff International to People Express to ValuJet \u2014 initial success and hoopla, overambitious expansion, untenable debt loads from that expansion, and collapse.<\/p>\n<p>Granted, Spirit throws a few wrenches into the usual rags-to-riches-to-rags story.<\/p>\n<p>For one, there\u2019s the fact that much of the damage began with COVID. And then there\u2019s the schadenfreude aspect: The low-cost carrier had developed such a nasty brand reputation, both for its customer service and its customers\u2019 behavior, that rebranding itself as \u201cYugo\u201d or \u201cEnron Air\u201d might have been an improvement image-wise.<\/p>\n<p>And then there was the last-ditch effort of President Donald Trump\u2019s administration to bail the airline out to the tune of $500 million, with the U.S. government effectively becoming the carrier\u2019s largest holder. This was a move straight out of the 2008 housing market collapse, and both Republicans and Democrats \u2014 not to mention Spirit\u2019s bondholders, who would likely have gotten shafted had the move gone through \u2014 seemed to buck against it.<\/p>\n<p>In the end, it wasn\u2019t enough. According to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.wsj.com\/business\/airlines\/spirit-airlines-prepares-to-shut-down-as-rescue-deal-falls-apart-5a2d5936\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">The Wall Street Journal<\/a>, Spirit was preparing to shut down effective 3 a.m. Eastern on Saturday morning. <a href=\"https:\/\/edition.cnn.com\/2026\/05\/02\/business\/spirit-to-halt-all-flights\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">CNN<\/a> confirmed this shortly after 1 a.m. Eastern, citing two sources familiar with the airline\u2019s shutdown plans.<\/p>\n<p> <script type=\"text\/javascript\"> \t\t\tif ( getCookie( \"ff_subbed\" ) ) { \t\t\t\tdocument.getElementById(\"anyclipvideo\").remove() \t\t\t} else { \t\t\t\tdocument.addEventListener(\"DOMContentLoaded\", function() { \t\t\t\t\tfunction loadAnyclip() { \t\t\t\t\t\tconst container = document.getElementById(\"anyclipvideo\"); \t\t\t\t\t\tif (!container) return;  \t\t\t\t\t\tconst script = document.createElement(\"script\"); \t\t\t\t\t\tscript.src = \"https:\/\/player.anyclip.com\/anyclip-widget\/lre-widget\/prod\/v1\/src\/lre.js\"; \t\t\t\t\t\tscript.setAttribute(\"pubname\", \"westernjournalcom\"); \t\t\t\t\t\tscript.setAttribute(\"widgetname\", \"001w000001jULVcAAO_M12924\");  \t\t\t\t\t\t\/\/ append inside the container so player shows in correct spot \t\t\t\t\t\tcontainer.appendChild(script); \t\t\t\t\t} \t\t\t\t\tfunction findPreviousParagraph(selector, x) { \t\t\t\t\t\tconst targetElement = document.querySelector(selector); \t\t\t\t\t\tif (!targetElement) { \t\t\t\t\t\t\tconsole.warn(\"Target element not found.\"); \t\t\t\t\t\t\treturn null; \t\t\t\t\t\t}  \t\t\t\t\t\t\/\/ Get all <\/p>\n<p> elements in order as they appear in the document \t\t\t\t\t\tlet paragraphs = Array.from(document.querySelectorAll(\"p\"));  \t\t\t\t\t\t\/\/ Find the index of the last <\/p>\n<p> before the target element \t\t\t\t\t\tlet targetIndex = paragraphs.findIndex(p => p.compareDocumentPosition(targetElement) & Node.DOCUMENT_POSITION_PRECEDING);  \t\t\t\t\t\tif (targetIndex === -1 || targetIndex < x) { \t\t\t\t\t\t\tconsole.warn(\"Not enough paragraphs before the target element.\"); \t\t\t\t\t\t\treturn null; \t\t\t\t\t\t}  \t\t\t\t\t\treturn paragraphs[targetIndex - x]; \t\t\t\t\t}  \t\t\t\t\t\/\/ Set up IntersectionObserver \t\t\t\t\tfunction observeElement(element) { \t\t\t\t\t\tif (!element) return;  \t\t\t\t\t\tconst observer = new IntersectionObserver( \t\t\t\t\t\t\t(entries) => { \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tentries.forEach(entry => { \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tif (entry.isIntersecting) { \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tconsole.log(\"Paragraph is now visible:\", entry.target.textContent.trim()); \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tloadAnyclip(); \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tobserver.disconnect(); \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t} \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t}); \t\t\t\t\t\t\t}, \t\t\t\t\t\t\t{ threshold: 0.5 } \/\/ Adjust threshold as needed \t\t\t\t\t\t);  \t\t\t\t\t\tobserver.observe(element); \t\t\t\t\t}  \t\t\t\t\t\/\/ Find the 1st paragraph before #anyclipvideo and observe it \t\t\t\t\tlet paragraphToObserve = findPreviousParagraph(\"#anyclipvideo\", 2); \t\t\t\t\tobserveElement(paragraphToObserve); \t\t\t\t}); \t\t\t} \t\t<\/script> <\/p>\n<p>Shortly after 2:30 a.m. Eastern, the airline made it official: \u201cIt is with great disappointment that Spirit Airlines has started winding down its global operations, effective immediately.\u201d<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\">\n<p dir=\"ltr\" lang=\"zxx\"><a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/Wz3ilRHD2z\">pic.twitter.com\/Wz3ilRHD2z<\/a><\/p>\n<p>\u2014 Spirit Airlines (@SpiritAirlines) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/SpiritAirlines\/status\/2050464195444121893?\">May 2, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<p>The airline, which had a 3.9 percent market  in the United States \u2014 down from 5.1 percent last year, according to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.forbes.com\/sites\/suzannerowankelleher\/2026\/05\/01\/spirit-airlines-creditors-call-trump-rescue-deal-untenable\/?streamIndex=0\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Forbes<\/a> \u2014 was set to run out of cash in just a matter of days.<\/p>\n<p>And while the focus will be on the bailout not coming, what people will forget is that there <em>was<\/em> a bailout for Spirit, and from the <em>private<\/em> sector.<\/p>\n<p>It was killed by Democrats, specifically President Joe Biden\u2019s administration, who thought that letting Spirit exist as an unsustainable separate entity would be good for competition and lead to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/plane-tickets-flying-a-bit-lower\/\" title=\"Plane tickets flying a bit lower\">lower ticket prices<\/a> and more jobs.<\/p>\n<p>Now, Spirit is completely out of business, meaning less competition, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/peter-pischke-this-time-is-different-boycott-disney-will-work\/\" title=\"Peter Pischke: This Time Is Different. Boycott Disney Will Work.\">higher ticket prices<\/a>, and no jobs for anyone with the airline. Winning, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/report-finds-blame-flight-cancellations-not-weather\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Democrat-style<\/a>!<\/p>\n<p>Let\u2019s rewind a bit. In 2022, when it was clear that Spirit was in trouble, it began seeking out prospective merger deals. After a deal with another ultra-low cost carrier, Frontier Airlines, fell through, JetBlue offered $3.8 billion to merge, according to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.wsj.com\/business\/airlines\/jetblue-agrees-to-buy-spirit-for-3-8-billion-11659005196?mod=hp_lead_pos1\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">The Wall Street Journal<\/a>. The offer was accepted.<\/p>\n<p>This, it\u2019s worth noting, would have actually increased competition on the so-called \u201cBig Four\u201d U.S. carriers \u2014 United, American, Delta, and Southwest \u2014 by creating the fifth-largest airline. The route networks of both JetBlue and Spirit were complementary. Both operated mostly Airbus A320 derivatives, meaning their fleets would also be complementary.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWhere we are today is we\u2019ve got an exciting merger agreement with JetBlue. It\u2019s going to create a very large, national low-cost carrier,\u201d Spirit Chief Executive Ted Christie said at the time.<\/p>\n<p>However, The Wall Street Journal noted that there were some storm clouds on the horizon: \u201cStill, JetBlue\u2019s victory over Frontier marks the beginning of a fight to get antitrust regulators to bless the deal. The Justice Department has been concerned that airline competition is dwindling after years of mergers, and the Biden administration has taken a tough stance on antitrust enforcement and corporate mergers broadly,\u201d the outlet reported at the time.<\/p>\n<p>And a tough stance they did take. Biden\u2019s Department of Justice, acting primarily at the behest of the Federal Trade Commission under chair Lina Khan, made sure that the merger didn\u2019t happen \u2014 something they openly celebrated when <a href=\"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/faa-temporarily-grounds-jetblue-flights\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">JetBlue<\/a> abandoned its merger attempt in March of 2024.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cToday\u2019s decision by JetBlue is yet another victory for the Justice Department\u2019s work on behalf of American consumers,\u201d then-Attorney General Merrick Garland said in a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.justice.gov\/archives\/opa\/pr\/justice-department-statements-jetblue-terminating-acquisition-spirit-airlines\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">media release<\/a>. \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. We will continue to vigorously enforce the nation\u2019s antitrust laws.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cOur win in court is a victory for U.S. travelers who deserve lower prices and better choices,\u201d former assistant Attorney General Jonathan Kanter likewise said. \u201cWe fought this case to protect consumers who, as the court recognized, \u2018otherwise would have no voice.\u2019 I am incredibly proud of the Antitrust Division\u2019s team and our state law enforcement partners\u2019 tireless advocacy.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>And Biden\u2019s DOJ wasn\u2019t the only one spiking the football. Regulation-happy Democratic Sen. Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts called it \u201ca Biden win for flyers!\u201d<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\">\n<p dir=\"ltr\" lang=\"en\">I\u2019ve warned for months that a <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/JetBlue?\">@JetBlue<\/a>\u2013<a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/SpiritAirlines?\">@SpiritAirlines<\/a> merger would have led to fewer flights and higher fares.<a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/JusticeATR?\">@JusticeATR<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/USDOT?\">@USDOT<\/a> were right to stand up for consumers and fight against runaway airline consolidation.<\/p>\n<p>This is a Biden win for flyers! <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/lJFGS3ucv3\">https:\/\/t.co\/lJFGS3ucv3<\/a><\/p>\n<p>\u2014 Elizabeth Warren (@SenWarren) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/SenWarren\/status\/1765190540427935859?\">March 6, 2024<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<p>At the time, Spirit <a href=\"https:\/\/www.airfleets.net\/chart\/Spirit%20Airlines-fleet-chart.htm\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">flew<\/a> 158 planes and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.prnewswire.com\/news-releases\/spirit-airlines-reports-first-quarter-2024-results-302136411.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">averaged roughly 800<\/a> flights a day.<\/p>\n<p>On Saturday, it was scheduled to fly 290 flights, according to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.cnbc.com\/2026\/05\/01\/spirit-airlines-flights-shut-down.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">CNBC<\/a>, and it said in a March <a href=\"https:\/\/ir.spirit.com\/news\/news-details\/2026\/Spirit-Airlines-Announces-Restructuring-Support-Agreement-and-Plan-of-Reorganization\/default.aspx\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">media release<\/a> that it was looking to \u201crightsize its fleet to 76-80 planes\u201d by the end of this year. It went from <a href=\"https:\/\/airlinegeeks.com\/2025\/03\/04\/over-2-000-spirit-workers-left-airline-last-year\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">12,798 employees<\/a> in 2023 to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.wlrn.org\/light\/news-in-brief\/2026-05-01\/spirit-airline-shutdown-wsj\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">9,700 employees<\/a> at the end of last year.<\/p>\n<p>Except at 3 a.m. Saturday, it went to zero planes in the air, zero revenue flights being flown, and zero long-term employees. Sure, it still has planes, they will likely need to fly ferry flights, and a skeleton crew will have to look over its liquidation. But for all intents and purposes, Spirit as an ongoing concern ceased the moment the wheels on the last revenue flight touched the runway at its destination.<\/p>\n<p>Now, at this point, it\u2019s for the best that Spirit Airlines is shutting down. At a purely aesthetic level, the ultra-low cost carrier has become the Waffle House of the skies, albeit with worse food and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/watch-passengers-panic-man-threatens-kill-everyone-mid-flight-accuses-woman-stealing-dna\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">more fights<\/a>. At a business level, it creates a moral hazard for the government to bail out and effectively own an airline whose problems were of its own making.<\/p>\n<p>However, there was a solution to this, and one that created benefits for consumers, stockholders, creditors, and the U.S. government: letting JetBlue and Spirit merge. But, no, said Biden\u2019s anti-business apparatchiks! We couldn\u2019t do that, that\u2019d spoil all the competition Spirit provided. We needed to \u201cprotect consumers\u201d who \u201cotherwise would have no voice.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>How\u2019s that working out, Sen. Warren?<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\">\n<p dir=\"ltr\" lang=\"en\">If Spirit Airlines fails, the blame will fall squarely on crazy Elizabeth Warren and the Biden Administration. Their anti-capitalist policies killed the Spirit\u2013JetBlue merger that would have saved the airline and protected its workers\u2019 jobs.<\/p>\n<p>Warren is a nasty woman. <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/guincozeej\">https:\/\/t.co\/guincozeej<\/a><\/p>\n<p>\u2014 Alex Bruesewitz \ud83c\uddfa\ud83c\uddf8 (@alexbruesewitz) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/alexbruesewitz\/status\/2050359921359945918?\">May 1, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\">\n<p dir=\"ltr\" lang=\"en\">A good reminder that Warren is almost always wrong.<\/p>\n<p>Warren celebrated the Biden admin effort to block the Jet Blue-Spirit merger. Now Spirit is likely to shut down, resulting in fewer flights and higher fares, the very thing she claimed the effort was preventing. <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/6o0Zaaxp2g\">https:\/\/t.co\/6o0Zaaxp2g<\/a><\/p>\n<p>\u2014 AG (@AGHamilton29) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/AGHamilton29\/status\/2050347894314508727?\">May 1, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\">\n<p dir=\"ltr\" lang=\"en\">LMAO.<\/p>\n<p>What you say now?<\/p>\n<p>I think there\u2019s going to be less flights.<\/p>\n<p>\u2014 Mila Joy (@Milajoy) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/Milajoy\/status\/2050391557048811753?\">May 2, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\">\n<p dir=\"ltr\" lang=\"en\">So, no merger, spirit goes out of business and prices go up, merge and prices go up.<\/p>\n<p>\u2014 Ivan \ud83c\uddfa\ud83c\uddf8 \ud83e\udd20 (@Ivantheboomer) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/Ivantheboomer\/status\/2050377164558598497?\">May 2, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\">\n<p dir=\"ltr\" lang=\"en\">oops<\/p>\n<p>\u2014 Mike Solana (@micsolana) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/micsolana\/status\/2050353934137438305?\">May 1, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<p>Because now, those consumers you were protecting have no airline \u2014 and limited options for flying, given that Spirit tickets may or may not be honored by other carriers for a brief period of time. JetBlue is not in a better position to challenge the \u201cBig Four.\u201d Almost 10,000 people don\u2019t have jobs anymore, at least long-term.<\/p>\n<p>Yes, \u201ca Biden win for flyers,\u201d indeed.<\/p>\n<div style=\"background-color: #f7f7f7; color: #171717; display: flex;font-size: 16px;font-weight: 600;line-height: 1.5;margin: 24px 0;padding: 18px 20px 18px 30px;text-align: left;\">\n<div style=\"align-self: stretch;border-left: 3px solid #171717;flex-shrink: 0;padding-left: 20px;\"><\/div>\n<p><a style=\"text-decoration: none;\" href=\"https:\/\/www.google.com\/preferences\/source?q=https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/\">Choose The Western Journal as your preferred source on Google and never miss reporting that defends truth, protects freedom, and advances Western civilization<\/a><\/div>\n<p style=\"border: 1px solid #f5f5f5; padding: 16px;\">Advertise with The Western Journal and reach millions of highly engaged readers, while supporting our work. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/advertise-us\/?wj_source=article\">Advertise Today<\/a>.<\/p>\n<div class=\"entry-submit-correction inner-content\">\n<div class=\"correction-form\">\n<form style=\"display: none;\">\n<div class=\"sc-name-field\"> \t\t\t\t\t\t<label>* Name<\/label> \t\t\t\t\t\t<br \/> \t\t\t\t\t\t<input type=\"text\" name=\"name\" required> \t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n<div class=\"sc--field\"> \t\t\t\t\t\t<label>* <\/label> \t\t\t\t\t\t<br \/> \t\t\t\t\t\t<input type=\"text\" name=\"\" required> \t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n<p> \t\t\t\t\t<label>* Message<\/label> \t\t\t\t\t<br \/> \t\t\t\t\t<textarea name=\"message\" required><\/textarea> \t\t\t\t\t \t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n<div class=\"required-message\" style=\"display: none; padding-bottom: 15px;\">* All fields are required.<\/div>\n<p> \t\t\t\t\t<input type=\"submit\" value=\"Submit\" onclick=\"event.preventDefault(); firefly_sc();\"> \t\t\t\t\t \t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n<div class=\"firefly-sc-confirm\" style=\"display: none;\">Success!<\/div>\n<\/p><\/form>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p> \t\t<script> \t\t\tfunction firefly_sc() { \t\t\t\tif( typeof window.captchaPublicKey == typeof undefined ){ \t\t\t\t\tconsole.error('window.captchaPublicKey is not defined'); \t\t\t\t} \t\t\t\tgrecaptcha.execute( window.captchaPublicKey, { action: 'submit_correction' } ).then( function( token ) { \t\t\t\t\tvar opts = { \t\t\t\t\t\taction:    'firefly_sc_submit', \t\t\t\t\t\tname:      document.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction [name=\"name\"]' ).value, \t\t\t\t\t\t:     document.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction [name=\"\"]' ).value, \t\t\t\t\t\tmessage:   document.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction [name=\"message\"]' ).value, \t\t\t\t\t\tpost_id:   firefly_post_id, \t\t\t\t\t\tcap_token: token \t\t\t\t\t}  \t\t\t\t\tvar inputs = [ 'name', '', 'message' ];  \t\t\t\t\tfor( var i = 0; i < inputs.length; i++ ) if( ! 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( opts[inputs[i]] = document.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction [name=\"' + inputs[i] + '\"]' ).value ) ) { \t\t\t\t\t\tdocument.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction .required-message' ).style.display = 'block'; \t\t\t\t\t\treturn; \t\t\t\t\t}  \t\t\t\t\tdocument.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction input[type=\"submit\"]' ).style.display = 'none'; \t\t\t\t\tdocument.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction .firefly-sc-submitting-img' ).src = firefly_loading_gif_url; \t\t\t\t\tdocument.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction .firefly-sc-submitting-img' ).style.display = 'inline-block';  \t\t\t\t\tconsole.log( 'ma subbing' );  \t\t\t\t\tif( firefly_post_id ) opts['post_id'] = firefly_post_id;  \t\t\t\t\t\/* Send the data using post with element id name and name2*\/ \t\t\t\t\tvar posting = jQuery.post( firefly_ajax_url, opts );  \t\t\t\t\t\/* Alerts the results *\/ \t\t\t\t\tposting.done( function( response ) { \t\t\t\t\t\tif( response.success ) { \t\t\t\t\t\t\tconsole.log( response.data ); \t\t\t\t\t\t\tdocument.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction .firefly-sc-submitting-img' ).style.display = 'none'; \t\t\t\t\t\t\tdocument.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction .firefly-sc-confirm' ).style.display = 'block';  \t\t\t\t\t\t\tdataLayer.push( { 'event': 'submit-correction' } ); \t\t\t\t\t\t} \t\t\t\t\t}); \t\t\t\t}); \t\t\t} \t\t<\/script> \t     \t\t\t\t\t\t     \t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n<p> \t\t\t\t\t \t\t\t<script>console.log(\"ad slot (BA1)\")<\/script> \t\t<\/p>\n<div class=\"ff-fancy-header-container\"> \t\t\t \t<\/div>\n<\/section>\n<p><\/body><\/html><\/p>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The downfall of Spirit Airlines mirrors many carriers\u2019 collapse since 1970s deregulation: early success, risky expansion, crushing debt, and failure<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":2598041,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/Ben-Working-Feature-Image-2026-05-02T113043.891.jpg","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[],"tags":[78994,78993,5894,78995],"class_list":["post-2598040","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","tag-airline-mergers-2","tag-aviation-industry-2","tag-politics","tag-regulatory-policy-2"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/Ben-Working-Feature-Image-2026-05-02T113043.891.jpg","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2598040","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2598040"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2598040\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2598044,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2598040\/revisions\/2598044"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2598041"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2598040"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2598040"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2598040"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}