(Reuters) -JetBlue Airways on Monday named Joanna Geraghty as its CEO, succeeding Robin Hayes who spearheaded the $3.8 billion acquisition of ultra-low-cost carrier Spirit Airlines
Geraghty, who has had a near two-decade career at JetBlue, is currently the company’s chief operating officer.
Hayes, who began at JetBlue in 2008 and led the airline through the challenges of the COVID pandemic said in a letter to employees that “extraordinary challenges and pressure of this job have taken their toll,” as he retires from the airline.
The U.S. Justice Department initiated legal action to prevent JetBlue, which is the sixth-largest U.S. airline, from acquiring the seventh-largest, Spirit, arguing that the merger would result in increased airfares.
Additionally, JetBlue expects fourth-quarter results at the better end of the forecast provided last month, helped by holiday travel demand.
(Reporting by Pratyush Thakur in Bengaluru; Editing by Shailesh Kuber)
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