US senator wants JetBlue CEO to answer if Spirit deal will hike air fares

US senator wants JetBlue CEO to answer if Spirit deal will hike air fares
FILE PHOTO: Illustration shows Spirit Airlines and jetBlue Airways logos

(Reuters) – Democratic Senator Elizabeth Warren asked JetBlue CEO Robin Hayes to answer if the low-cost airline privately forecast its planned $3.8 billion merger with Spirit Airlines will dramatically hike air fares, according to a letter seen by Reuters.

She cited reports that court documents suggested internally JetBlue had estimated fares on Spirit planes “could go up by as much as 40%,” following the merger.

JetBlue said Wednesday the reported claims do “not reflect facts set out in JetBlue documents.”

(Reporting by David Shepardson; Editing by Chris Reese)

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