DOT Secretary Duffy blames Biden admin, Pete – Business News
Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy slammed his predecessor for sowing the seeds of Spirit Airlines’ dramatic collapse when the Biden administration killed a $3.8 billion merger deal with JetBlue.
“Spirit tried to merge with JetBlue. The Joe Biden-Pete Buttigieg administration and DOJ tanked that deal,” Duffy informed ABC’s “This Week” on Sunday. “Immediately after that, they filed for bankruptcy.”
“This was in the works for some time. I’m proud of the American airlines that have stepped up to take care of the passengers of Spirit, making sure they get home.”
“Spirit tried to merge with JetBlue. The Joe Biden-Pete Buttigieg administration and DOJ tanked that deal. Immediately after that, they filed for bankruptcy,” DOT Secretary Sean Duffy charged on ABC News. ABC News
Spirit Airlines abrubtly shut down Saturday after 34 years. REUTERS
The ultra-low-cost airline crashed and burned early Saturday, costing some 17,000 jobs. President Trump had contemplated a $500 million bailout for Spirit Airlines, however finally that deal fell aside.
Back in 2024, a court docket sided with the Biden administration’s Justice Department in opposing a merger deal between Spirit Airlines and JetBlue.
Spirit Airlines had been circling the drain financially for years and later filed for chapter in 2024 after the merger deal was shut down.
Duffy has long criticized Buttigieg, a speculated 2028 Democratic presidential hopeful, for his efficiency as Biden’s Transportation chief. Bloomberg through Getty Images
Duffy beforehand pushed back on the notion that surging oil costs from the struggle in Iran had been the impetus for Spirit Airlines throwing in the towel.
“Spirit was in dire straits long before the war with Iran,” the Transportation secretary argued during a press convention on Saturday. “Multiple times, they filed for bankruptcy. Their model wasn’t working.”
“They couldn’t get to fiscal health, so this was not the impetus. The war was not the impetus for Spirit.”
The low-cost provider’s shuttering left many flyers within the lurch. Getty Images
The Post contacted a spokesperson for Duffy’s predecessor, former Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg for remark.
Duffy has long criticized Buttigieg, a speculated 2028 Democratic presidential hopeful, for his efficiency as Transportation chief.
Last yr, for instance, he highlighted reporting from The Post that Buttigieg’s Transportation Department doled out more than $80 billion over 4 years on variety, equity and inclusion grants.
