Explainer Episode 83 - The Failed JetBlue-Spirit Merger: The Past and Present Approach to Mergers

In November 2024, Spirit Airlines filed for bankruptcy after a federal judge blocked their proposed merger with JetBlue Airlines earlier that year. Far from simply impacting travel plans, however, the failed merger shows the Federal Trade Commission's recent focus on efficiency.
Former FTC General Counsel Alden Abbott joins the podcast to discuss the antitrust background of the case, and whether such federal interference actually benefits consumer competition.