Given that we can't repeat history and rerun it altering conditions, correlation may be the best we can do with all its limitations. Considering that Spirit Airlines hadn't been profitable since 2019, it's not surprising that a rise in recent fuel costs of 65% was the straw which broke the camel's back. However, I agree with you that the merger should not have been blocked.
Decades back, in business school, I recall reading or hearing that the airline industry en toto was never profitable - that it was built on depreciation and bankruptcy sales. So, the datum you cite may lack important context.
Doesn't change the core point. When meddlers pay no price for their meddling, it's near-inevitable that outcomes will be worse.
Given that we can't repeat history and rerun it altering conditions, correlation may be the best we can do with all its limitations. Considering that Spirit Airlines hadn't been profitable since 2019, it's not surprising that a rise in recent fuel costs of 65% was the straw which broke the camel's back. However, I agree with you that the merger should not have been blocked.
Decades back, in business school, I recall reading or hearing that the airline industry en toto was never profitable - that it was built on depreciation and bankruptcy sales. So, the datum you cite may lack important context.
Doesn't change the core point. When meddlers pay no price for their meddling, it's near-inevitable that outcomes will be worse.