Originally Posted by
beyondhere
I would have preferred if it was JetBlue buying Frontier, and Spirit remaining as the leading ULCC. I think there is less route overlap as well.
Network-wise and brand-wise, that would have made more sense I think. However JetBlue wants Spirit's assets (their IAE/PW-powered planes and maintenance, their gates and routes out of MCO and FLL, their office space in Florida). Frontier planes are CFM-powered, though that hasn't stopped JetBlue before (VX was also a CFM-powered airline).
-J.