Spirit Airlines relented this week and agreed to sell itself to JetBlue Airways for $3.8 billion, hours after breaking off a merger agreement with Frontier Airlines that failed to win enough shareholder support. The two carriers will continue to operate as separate airlines until after the deal closes, which is subject to regulatory approval. JetBlue plans to retrofit Spirit’s planes in JetBlue’s style, ripping out the packed-in seats for a roomier layout with more amenities. The airline’s ‘Big Front Seat’ does offer 36 inches of legroom for a surcharge of up to $250, but JetBlue came in last among 10 airlines in on-time arrivals this year through May, according to the Transportation Department’s latest available data. . . .
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