Discount carrier says a merger would be a better path out of bankruptcy for Spirit, which has rebuffed the latest proposal.

Spirit, which filed for bankruptcy protection last year, says it has rejected the new Frontier overture but would be open to a higher offer.

Frontier Airlines is attempting for a second time to merge with the now bankrupt Spirit Airlines, which declared bankruptcy late last year as budget airlines struggle.

Spirit filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in November 2024, six months after a proposed merger with JetBlue collapsed.

Spirit Airlines said on Wednesday that it is rejecting the latest merger offer from Frontier Airlines, and will instead continue with its bankruptcy restructuring plan.

Frontier Airlines is making another offer to merge with bankrupt Spirit Airlines, less than two years after a previous plan fell through.

Spirit Airlines has rejected a second offer by Frontier Group to merge, citing insufficient financial conditions.

In our opinion, Southwest has the best balance sheet of all the US-based carriers. As the pandemic has wreaked havoc on air travel demand and airlines’ business model, liquidity became more paramount since 2020 than it had been in previous years.

Frontier Airlines issued a complete ground stop for all nationwide flights amid ongoing IT issues, according to an advisory by the FAA. It's slated to be in effect until at least 7:30 p.m. EST

Frontier Airlines is attempting for a second time to merge with the now bankrupt Spirit Airlines, which declared bankruptcy late last year as budget airlines struggle. Frontier Group Holdings Inc., the parent company of Frontier Airlines, said Wednesday that the proposed deal would include newly issued Frontier debt and common stock.

Denver-based Frontier Airlines says it’s ready to keep talking after bankrupt Spirit Airlines rejected its offer to merge.