The Justice Department plans to block the $3.8 billion merger deal between JetBlue and Spirit Airlines, citing concerns that it would lead to higher ticket prices and fewer choices for consumers. Attorney General Merrick Garland says the deal would exacerbate concentration and further stifle competition in the airline industry, where only four major airlines, American, United, Delta, and Southwest, control 80% of the market. The Department’s statistics show that when low-cost carriers like Spirit introduce a new route, the average ticket price falls by 17%, and Associate Attorney General Vanita Gupta argues that the merger would hurt those travelers who can least afford to see travel costs rise. JetBlue, however, claims that the deal would allow them to better compete with the top-four carriers. The lawsuit will now head to trial.