JetBlue launches takeover bid for Spirit Airlines

JetBlue is proposing a cash purchase of Spirit Airlines stock at a price of $30 per share.

US low-cost airline JetBlue Airlines announced on Monday a takeover bid for rival Spirit Airlines, which had preferred a merger with Frontier Airlines.

JetBlue, which is now proposing an all-cash purchase of Spirit stock at a price of $30 per share, also filed a document in which the group asks Spirit shareholders to vote "no" on the Frontier merger proposal. At a special meeting on June 10th.

Earlier this month, Spirit's board rejected a $3.6 billion takeover offer from JetBlue, saying it was concerned the deal would be blocked by competition authorities.

JetBlue has a partnership with American Airlines, the Northeast Alliance, which could be an obstacle to the deal going through.

Spirit had preferred Frontier's $2.9 billion proposal.

Spirit's merger with Frontier would create the nation's fifth-largest carrier in terms of seats offered, behind American, United, Delta and Southwest.

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