"Spirit Airlines Appeals Ruling Blocking JetBlue Merger Amid Financial Turbulence"

Spirit Airlines and JetBlue plan to appeal a federal judge's ruling that blocked their merger, which was intended to help JetBlue compete more effectively against larger airlines. The Justice Department had sued to stop the $3.8 billion deal, arguing that consumers would be harmed. Spirit, which has been losing money since 2020, is also seeking to refinance debt and negotiate compensation for grounded planes. Shares of Spirit rose after the announcement of the appeal, while JetBlue's shares fell in extended trading.