© Reuters. FILE PHOTO: An airplane model is placed on the Spirit Airlines and JetBlue Airways logos in this illustration taken June 21, 2022. REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/Illustrations/File Photo
(Reuters) – The U.S. Department of Justice is expected to file an antitrust lawsuit to block JetBlue Airways (NASDAQ:) Corp’s acquisition of its low-cost rival for $3.8 billion. spiritual airlines (NYSE:) Inc as early as Tuesday, Bloomberg News reported Monday.
The Transportation Department, which is also reviewing the deal, is expected to take parallel steps to stop the planned transaction, Bloomberg said.
JetBlue prevailed in a months-long bidding war for Spirit Airlines after the ultra-low-cost carrier accepted its offer in late July.
Neither the Department of Justice, the Department of Transportation nor the companies immediately responded to requests for comment.
