Spirit Airlines has announced that its merger agreement with JetBlue has been terminated by mutual agreement.

“After discussing our options with our advisors and JetBlue, we concluded that current regulatory obstacles will not permit us to close this transaction in a timely fashion under the merger agreement,” said Ted Christie, Spirit’s President and chief executive officer.

“We are disappointed we cannot move forward with a deal that would save hundreds of millions for consumers and create a real challenger to the dominant “Big 4” U.S. airlines.

“However, we remain confident in our future as a successful independent airline. We wish the JetBlue team well.”

Christie continued: “Throughout the transaction process, given the regulatory uncertainty, we have always considered the possibility of continuing to operate as a standalone business and have been evaluating and implementing several initiatives that will enable us to bolster profitability and elevate the guest experience.

“As we go forward, I am certain our fantastic Spirit team will continue delivering affordable fares and great experiences to our guests.”Subscribe to the FINN weekly newsletter