Judge raises possibility of approving JetBlue-Spirit deal, Reuters says

US District Judge William Young considering the DOJ’s bid to block JetBlue’s (JBLU) proposed takeover of Spirit Airlines (SAVE) brought up the possibility of letting the deal move forward if JetBlue divests additional assets, Reuters reports. The judge told a JetBlue lawyer that he anticipates airline fares would rise if no-frills, ultra-low-cost Spirit no longer existed to “undercut everyone else” and drive down prices, the report notes. Still, the judge told both sides that he was having “trouble” with the DOJ’s request for a permanent injunction, the report says.