Jetblue tries new tack in Spirit bid

Jetblue is going hostile in its bid for Spirit Airlines and asking shareholders of the low-cost carrier to reject a proposed $2.9 billion acquisition by Frontier Airlines.

Jetblue, in going straight to shareholders with its offer Monday, wants to push Spirit’s board to the negotiating table.

Jetblue pitched a new offer of $30 per share in cash to Spirit stockholders but said its previous offer of $33 per share is still available if Spirit enters negotiations.

Spirit’s board rejected Jetblue’s $3.6 billion offer on May 2, saying antitrust regulators are unlikely to approve an offer from the New York City-based airline largely because of its alliance with American Airlines in the Northeast. The Justice Department is suing to block that deal.