JetBlue and Spirit Airlines Call Off Merger Deal

JetBlue Airways and Spirit Airlines terminated their merger agreement, weeks after a judge ruled that the $3.8 billion deal would reduce competition and harm cost-conscious fliers.

The airlines had appealed the judge’s January ruling, but some analysts said overturning it would probably be a long shot. JetBlue and Spirit said Monday that they had come to the decision that they probably couldn’t overcome the legal and regulatory hurdles.

JetBlue Chief Executive Joanna Geraghty told employees Monday that the federal court ruling and the Justice Department’s continued opposition made the probability of prevailing soon extremely low. Spirit CEO Ted Christie also...