Business
business
Max Knoblauch

Frontier’s still dreaming of a budget airline buyout. Spirit, not so much.

Three years later, Frontier Airlines is back and trying to buy Spirit.

On Wednesday, Frontier said it made another offer to snag its budget rival — this time for $2.1 billion, or about $800 million less than its takeover attempt in 2022. Spirit said it has rejected the bid (not enough $$) but that it’s willing to talk. (Being willing to talk is a pretty standard line for publicly traded companies because they have a duty to their shareholders.)

Back in 2022, the two airlines planned to merge before JetBlue proposed a stronger offer. Spirit bailed on Frontier, but the JetBlue deal ended up being blocked after opposition from the Biden administration’s DOJ. Spirit and JetBlue called off their $3.8 billion merger early last year, and Spirit filed for bankruptcy in November.

Should the two sides ultimately find some common merger ground (and receive the OK from Trump’s antitrust agencies), a Frontier-Spirit combo carrier would be America’s fifth-largest airline.

Frontier makes new offer to combine with bankrupt Spirit Airlines — and is rebuffed

Frontier makes new offer to combine with bankrupt Spirit Airlines — and is rebuffed

Back in 2022, the two airlines planned to merge before JetBlue proposed a stronger offer. Spirit bailed on Frontier, but the JetBlue deal ended up being blocked after opposition from the Biden administration’s DOJ. Spirit and JetBlue called off their $3.8 billion merger early last year, and Spirit filed for bankruptcy in November.

Should the two sides ultimately find some common merger ground (and receive the OK from Trump’s antitrust agencies), a Frontier-Spirit combo carrier would be America’s fifth-largest airline.

More Business

See all Business
Capsule Pill and Dots

Justice Department accuses telehealth Zealthy of fraud, says remedy may bankrupt it

The feds say they don’t think Zealthy has the liquidity to pay what it owes customers.

J. Edward Moreno4/14/26
Hyunsoo Rim, J. Edward Moreno
bottling it
4/13/26
Americans aren’t drinking as much Mexican beer — that’s not been good for Constellation

The nation’s largest beer importer by sales just saw a 10-year growth streak come to an abrupt end.

Constellation beer brands
Netflix playground

Will investing in kids games finally make Netflix Games “the Netflix of games”?

Netflix is launching a game for preschoolers, its latest foray into stuff-you-play instead of stuff-you-watch.

Claire Yubin Oh4/10/26
business
Max Knoblauch

American Airlines joins the flock, hiking bag fees amid higher jet fuel prices

American Airlines on Thursday announced that it, too, will be hiking the fees it charges customers to check luggage.

With the move, all four of the major US airlines, which together control about 80% of the US market, have now hiked their baggage fees in recent days amid surging jet fuel prices.

The change will go into effect on tickets bought on or after Thursday, the same day Southwest’s hike begins.

Since late March, JetBlue, Delta Air Lines, United Airlines, Canada’s WestJet, and Southwest have hiked their fees. Experts expect more major carriers to follow, and to potentially tweak the pricing of other ancillary revenue sources like seat assignments and carry-on luggage.

American Airlines updates bag fees and Basic Economy fares

American Airlines updates bag fees and Basic Economy fares

The change will go into effect on tickets bought on or after Thursday, the same day Southwest’s hike begins.

Since late March, JetBlue, Delta Air Lines, United Airlines, Canada’s WestJet, and Southwest have hiked their fees. Experts expect more major carriers to follow, and to potentially tweak the pricing of other ancillary revenue sources like seat assignments and carry-on luggage.

business
Max Knoblauch

Less than a year after implementing them, Southwest is also hiking its bag fees

Southwest Airlines has joined the growing list of airlines opting to hike their bag fees amid sustained higher jet fuel costs.

Starting today, the first checked bag at the carrier — which implemented bag fees less than a year ago — will jump from $35 to $45, and the second from $45 to $55. Southwest quietly disclosed the change Tuesday.

Southwest assigned the decision to “part of an ongoing analysis of the business and against the evolving global backdrop.”

As of Wednesday, jet fuel prices dropped to $4.16 a gallon, per the Argus US Jet Fuel Index, down from $4.81 on Tuesday following President Trump’s ceasefire announcement, which sent travel stocks soaring. Major airlines have shed some of those gains in premarket trading Thursday.

With the move to hike bag fees, Southwest joins JetBlue, United Airlines, Delta Air Lines, and Canada’s WestJet, all of which also boosted fees this month. Experts expect more major carriers to follow, and to potentially tweak the pricing of other ancillary revenue sources like seat assignments and carry-on luggage.

Three US airlines have already hiked baggage fees. More are likely on the way.

Three US airlines have already hiked baggage fees. More are likely on the way.

Southwest assigned the decision to “part of an ongoing analysis of the business and against the evolving global backdrop.”

As of Wednesday, jet fuel prices dropped to $4.16 a gallon, per the Argus US Jet Fuel Index, down from $4.81 on Tuesday following President Trump’s ceasefire announcement, which sent travel stocks soaring. Major airlines have shed some of those gains in premarket trading Thursday.

With the move to hike bag fees, Southwest joins JetBlue, United Airlines, Delta Air Lines, and Canada’s WestJet, all of which also boosted fees this month. Experts expect more major carriers to follow, and to potentially tweak the pricing of other ancillary revenue sources like seat assignments and carry-on luggage.

Latest Stories

Sherwood Media, LLC produces fresh and unique perspectives on topical financial news and is a fully owned subsidiary of Robinhood Markets, Inc., and any views expressed here do not necessarily reflect the views of any other Robinhood affiliate, including Robinhood Markets, Inc., Robinhood Financial LLC, Robinhood Securities, LLC, Robinhood Crypto, LLC, Robinhood Derivatives, LLC, or Robinhood Money, LLC. Futures and event contracts are offered through Robinhood Derivatives, LLC.
©2026 Sherwood Media, LLC