Spirit once more delays shareholder merger vote to proceed talks with Frontier, JetBlue

A Spirit Airways aircraft on the tarmac on the Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood Worldwide Airport on February 07, 2022 in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.

Joe Raedle | Getty Photos

Spirit Airways on Wednesday delayed shareholder vote on its proposed merger with Frontier Airways till July 8, hours earlier than a gathering scheduled for Thursday so it might probably additional focus on choices with Frontier and rival suitor JetBlue Airways.

It’s the second time Spirit has delayed a vote on its deliberate mixture with Frontier and extends essentially the most contentious battle for a US airline in years.

Spirit initially scheduled Thursday’s vote for June 10 however had delayed that for a similar causes.

Each Frontier and JetBlue have upped their affords within the week earlier than the scheduled vote approached.

“Spirit wouldn’t have postponed tomorrow’s assembly in the event that they felt they’d the votes,” stated Henry Harteveldt, a journey trade advisor and president of Ambiance Analysis Group. Spirit did not touch upon whether or not that’s the case.

“We praise the Spirit Board for listening to their shareholders, who clearly weren’t supportive of the Frontier transaction, and adjourning the Particular Assembly,” JetBlue CEO Robin Hayes stated in a press release later Wednesday.

“It is clear that Spirit shareholders have now handed the Spirit Board an simple mandate to succeed in an settlement with JetBlue.”

“That is like the top of a cleaning soap opera episode,” Harteveldt added.

Frontier and Spirit first introduced their intent to merge in February. In April, JetBlue made an all-cash, shock bid for Spirit, however Spirit’s board has repeatedly rejected JetBlue’s affords, arguing a JetBlue takeover would not go muster with regulators.

Both mixture would create the USA’ fifth-largest service.

JetBlue has fired again at Spirit, saying it didn’t negotiate in good religion, setting off a disagreement between the airways as they competed for shareholder help forward of the vote.

Frontier did not instantly remark in regards to the postponed vote.

Spirit shares had been up about 2% in afterhours buying and selling, whereas Frontier was up greater than 1% and JetBlue was down 1%.