Spirit Airlines

Spirit Airlines said Monday that it still supports Frontier Airlines’ $2.9 billion takeover bid for the airline, saying it was more likely to win regulatory approval than JetBlue’s competing $3.6 billion offer.

Spirit had already agreed to a proposed merger with Frontier Airlines, but JetBlue is offering more money.

Frontier Airlines and Spirit Airlines are proposing to combine in a $2.9 billion deal that would create a larger discount airline to compete against the nation’s dominant carriers and, they say, promote lower fares.

The Miramar-based airline made the statement in an “update” to investors that was filed late Monday with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

The airline is expected to cancel about 50% of its flights nationwide from Friday and into next week, continuing a weeklong trend of mass cancellations, CEO Ted Christie told reporters.

The airlines cited weather and staffing challenges. The industry has had trouble meeting the demand as people are ready to travel again.

Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport reported 74 flight cancellations Monday, 68 of which were from Spirit Airlines, according to flight tracking service FlightAware.com. On Sunday, Spirit accounted for 34 of 37 cancellations at the airport.

This post will be updated today, Thursday, Dec. 10, and through the week with the latest information on COVID-19 in South Florida.

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