A LINE OF Spirit Airlines jets sit on the tarmac at the Orlando International Airport on May 20, 2020, in Orlando, Fla. Shareholders of Spirit Airlines will vote Thursday, on a proposed merger with Frontier Airlines, and the outcome could affect fares for millions of air travelers who depend on the budget airlines. / CHRIS O'MEARA / ASSOCIATED PRESS FILE PHOTO
DALLAS (AP) – The prospect of a takeover of Spirit Airlines threatens to upend the cheap-fare end of the industry much like a series of mergers among big airlines reduced choices for travelers. Spirit is the largest budget airline in the United States, but its days as a stand-alone company appear numbered. The big question…