The airlines wanted to suspend flights as they weather severe financial difficulties related to the coronavirus.
The Department of Transportation on Thursday refused to allow JetBlue and Spirit airlines to end service to dozens of cities as they seek to slash costs during thepandemic, issuing its first decisions on a key provision of the federal bailout of the industry.
But the Transportation Department said Thursday it didn’t find the two airlines’ arguments compelling, saying in a written decision that they had “not persuaded the Department that we must strike a different balance.” with 10 airlines, the carriers agreed to pay back 30 percent of the money and to let the government acquire stock as a way for the government to recoup some of taxpayers’ outlay.The interpretation of the minimum service requirement has been similarly contentious, with some communities fearing losing critical air links and lawmakers seeking to intercede with the Transportation Department for more favorable terms.
Even if those communities were not served by the airline, travelers would “continue to have good access to air transportation,” Spirit wrote.On March 30, Spirit became the first airline to cancel all flights to New York, New Jersey and Connecticut. In announcing the decision, the carrier said it was following warnings against all nonessential travel to the region that were put out by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
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