ROBIN HAYES

Senior executives of JetBlue Airways and Southwest Airlines argued in court Wednesday over JetBlue's controversial partnership with American Airlines that the Biden administration is seeking the thwart. JetBlue CEO Robin Hayes told a federal court in Boston the partnership will help his airline grow, accommodate customers whose flights gets canceled, and attract more corporate travelers. But Southwest’s Andrew Watterson said he was disappointed that the partnership will give American access to valuable JetBlue slots that American once controlled but was forced to surrender to win regulatory approval of a 2013 merger and a separate transaction. “We thought that was outrageous,” said Watterson, who will become chief operating officer at Southwest later this week. Other carriers want to expand in New York too, but federal officials limit takeoff and landing rights, or “slots,” because of congestion.

Testimony at the antitrust trial involving American Airlines and JetBlue is turning toward access to airports in New York and Boston.

Government lawyers used airline executives' own words in trying Tuesday to persuade a federal judge to kill a partnership between American Airlines and JetBlue Airways. The government argued that the deal is, in effect, a merger that will cost consumers $700 million a year in higher fares. It said JetBlue's pending purchase of Spirit Airlines will make matters even worse for travelers. JetBlue CEO Robin Hayes was the first witness in the trial in federal district court in Boston over the federal government’s antitrust lawsuit against American and JetBlue. “And it stands potentially to get worse with JetBlue's announced acquisition of Spirit Airlines,” Jones said.

A trial is underway in the federal government's lawsuit aiming to kill a partnership between American Airlines and JetBlue Airways in the Northeast.

The agreement Thursday capped a months-long bidding war and arrives one day after Spirit's attempt to merge with Frontier Airlines fell apart. The deal still needs approval from antitrust regulators.

The deal comes a day after Spirit and Frontier Airlines agreed to abandon their merger proposal.

(AP Photo/Chris O'Meara, File) (Chris O'Meara)JetBlue Airways has agreed to buy Spirit Airlines for $3.8 billion and create the nation’s fifth-largest airline if the deal can win approval from antitrust regulators. The agreement Thursday capped a months-long bidding war and arrives one day after Spirit's attempt to merge with fellow budget carrier Frontier Airlines fell apart. JetBlue and Spirit will continue to operate independently until the agreement is approved by regulators and Spirit shareholders, with their separate loyalty programs and customer accounts. If the deal doesn’t close due to antitrust reasons, JetBlue will pay Spirit a reverse break-up fee of $70 million and pay Spirit shareholders $400 million, minus any amounts paid to the shareholders prior to termination. Spirit and Frontier announced their plan to merge in February, and Spirit's board stood by that deal even after JetBlue made a higher-priced offer in April.

Spirit Airlines and Frontier Airlines are abandoning their merger proposal, which opens the way for JetBlue Airways to strike a deal for Spirit.

Spirit Airlines said Thursday it was again postponing a shareholder vote on a proposed merger with Frontier Airlines to continue talks with Frontier and rival bidder JetBlue Airways. It was the third time that Spirit called off a vote on the Frontier deal that is favored by the Spirit board. The delay appeared to indicate that the merger of the two discount airlines lacks shareholder support in the face of a JetBlue bid that is higher in current value. At Frontier's current stock price, the airline's bid is worth about $22 per share, or $2.4 billion. Spirit and Frontier argue that over the long run, their combined company will be worth more than JetBlue's offer.

Airline Mergers FILE - Frontier Airlines jets sit at gates at Denver International Airport on Sept. 22, 2019, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski, File) (David Zalubowski)NEW YORK — (AP) — Shares of Spirit Airlines rose Thursday after it postponed a vote for the second time on a proposed merger with Frontier Airlines, allowing for a bidding war over the budget airline between Frontier and JetBlue Airways to play out. The delay, announced hours before the scheduled vote, indicated that Spirit lacked support to approve the Frontier merger. JetBlue CEO Robin Hayes said Spirit shareholders gave their board a mandate to negotiate a sale to his airline. Florida-based Spirit said the vote on a proposed tie-up with Frontier would be postponed until July 8.

Shares of Spirit Airlines are rising after the budget airline postponed a vote on a merger with Frontier for the second time.

Shareholders of Spirit Airlines will vote Thursday on a proposed merger with Frontier Airlines, and the outcome could affect fares for millions of air travelers who depend on the budget airlines.

Carly Zurich held up a letter that brought her dad to tears. It was her medical school acceptance letter, and even though he cried, her dad said he knew she would get in.

Score one for JetBlue in the dogfight over who gets to buy Spirit Airlines.

JetBlue is further dialing back its growth plans after struggling with a high number of canceled flights.

The fight for Spirit Airlines is heating up again.

JetBlue Spirit FILE- Robin Hayes, CEO President and Director, JetBlue Airways Corporation, speaks at the 14th Annual Aviation Summit in Washington, on March 17, 2015. JetBlue Airways executives explained to Wall Street on Wednesday, April 6, 2022, why they're offering to pay $3.6 billion for Spirit Airlines, a proposed combination that has received a chilly reception from investors. JetBlue doesn’t want Spirit’s ultra-low-cost business model, and certainly it doesn’t want Spirit’s last-place ranking in government-compiled customer complaints. But it does want Spirit’s fleet of Airbus jets, and especially its fat stack of orders for more planes. New York-based JetBlue needs more planes to compete more evenly with the four biggest U.S. airlines — American, Delta, United and Southwest.

Investors seem to be taking a slightly dim view of JetBlue's bid to buy Spirit Airlines for $3.6 billion.

The Justice Department is suing to stop American Airlines and JetBlue from coordinating their flights in the Northeast.

JetBlue is not departing New York. The low-cost airline announced Tuesday that it will keep its headquarters in Queens and expand its flagship terminal at John F. Kennedy International Airport. JetBlue had considered moving its headquarters to Florida when its lease at a building in Long Island City ends in 2023.

U.S. and EU travelers that have been fully vaccinated against the coronavirus will soon be allowed to visit England without having to quarantine.

An 88-year-old artist looking to fill time during the pandemic has completed an entire year of elaborate “daily doodles.”.

There are hundreds of millions of people like her all over the world," he added, calling the Covid-19 vaccine "a game changer for everybody." However, the start of Covid-19 vaccinations have offered hope of a more complete economic recovery in 2021, particularly in beleaguered sectors like travel and hospitality. The administration of Pfizer and BioNTech's vaccine began in the U.K. last week and in America this week. "We see our leisure business largely recovered by the end of next year. We think business travel will take a little bit longer but that's only about 15% to 20% of what we fly," he said.

"We continue to see a fair bit of interest for travel around the Thanksgiving and holiday period," Hayes said on "Closing Bell." ... We've been in a rising case count here for a couple weeks, and so far, we haven't seen an impact on bookings." Earlier Tuesday, New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio urged the city's residents not to travel outside of the state for the upcoming holidays. The mayor's concerns about holiday travel echo those of Dr. Anthony Fauci, the nation's leading infectious disease expert. Fauci has said his children, who live in three different states, have decided not to travel to see him for Thanksgiving.

CHARLOTTE, N.C. A former North Carolina congressman was sentenced Wednesday to probation for lying to FBI agents about his role in a scheme with a wealthy insurance company magnate to try to bribe the states top insurance regulator. Ex-U.S. Rep. Robin Hayes received no prison time from U.S. District Judge Max Cogburn, in keeping with the requests of federal prosecutors and Hayes attorneys. The insurance executive, Greg Lindberg, and another person convicted in the case were to be sentenced later in the day. A wealthy insurance and investment firm founder, Lindberg had been among the states top political donors. The government had recommended probation for Hayes, 75, because they said he admitted his crime, accepted responsibility and agreed to cooperate.

Today, the City furloughed 30 employees and we are working with them to assist through these times. Also included in that message was an announcement that the City of Mount Dora furloughed 30 employees. Today, the City furloughed 30 employees and we are working with them to assist through these times. The furlough allows the affected employees to file for unemployment and to retain their City paid benefits. She said Hayes worked closely all affected employees through the decision-making process and worked to ensure the best possible outcome.

JetBlue CEO Robin Hayes said Tuesday that demand for airline flights has fallen more in response to the coronavirus than it did after 9/11. Hayes, appearing on CNBC's "Closing Bell," said the industry saw a 30% decline in demand from August 2001 to October 2001. Southwest Airlines CEO Gary Kelly also recently said the coronavirus has created a fear of flying that has a "9/11-like feel." United President Scott Kirby added that gross bookings, which he said are a better measure of current demand, are down 25%. Like many other airlines, JetBlue is making adjustments to its flight schedules between March and early May.

Robin Hayes received her third annual performance evaluation from city council members and despite a few concerns about her recent performance, received a 3% raise and encouragement regarding her future with the city. MOUNT DORA After three years as city manager, Robin Hayes is getting mixed reviews and a 3% pay raise from City Council. There are 315 possible boxes: seven council members and nine categories, Councilman Cal Rolfson pointed out. Rolfson reminded his fellow council members that before Hayes, Mount Dora had multiple city managers in 14 months, resulting in transitional and unstable management and negative publicity. I respect the city managers authority to manage the daily operations of the city of Mount Dora.