Spirit Airlines on Thursday postponed the July 8 shareholder vote on its proposed merger with Frontier Airlines, already postponed once before, to July 15. The delay will “allow the Spirit Board of Directors to continue discussions with Frontier and JetBlue Airways,” the airline said in a statement.
Spirit said it would “reopen and immediately adjourn” its special meeting for shareholders scheduled for July 8.
Frontier and JetBlue have been in a bidding war to acquire the low-cost carrier since JetBlue made its first offer in April, after Frontier and Spirit announced their merger agreement in February.
“We are encouraged by our discussions with Spirit and are hopeful they now recognize that Spirit shareholders have indicated their clear, overwhelming preference for an agreement with JetBlue,” JetBlue CEO Robin Hayes said in a statement.
Frontier did not immediately comment on Spirit’s delay.