Guest Opinion: JetBlue-Spirit merger will benefit Utah
by Mayor Troy Walker
From the Great Salt Lake to our five national parks, Utah is an incredible state with seemingly endless wonders to experience. It is no surprise then that visitors from across the country – and the world – want to see what makes Utah special. Fortunately for us, these visitors provide incredible economic benefits, with visitors to Utah in 2021 spending a record $10.56 billion and supporting 90,000 jobs in our travel and tourism industry.
Key to driving these numbers is the airline industry, which flies millions of visitors to Utah annually. And while there has been significant focus on the cost of airline tickets and the impact inflation is having on the family vacation, low-fare airlines are helping to make air travel more affordable. One such airline working to disrupt the market and lower the cost of travel is JetBlue, which recently announced plans to acquire Spirit Airlines...
Unfortunately, the U.S. Departments of Justice and Transportation are seeking to block JetBlue’s merger with Spirit. As a result, it has now become the responsibility of those advocating on behalf of business communities, consumers, and local economies to address what is at stake if this merger is not approved...
JetBlue has supported Utah’s economy, and it is important we offer our support in return. The federal government should reverse course and allow JetBlue to compete with the ‘Big Four’ and offer great service at a low fare. Utah needs a strong airline partner, and JetBlue’s merger with Spirit is precisely what our state needs to propel our vision for Utah’s economic future. (Read More)
News Releases
Utah’s consumer sentiment rises sharply in June
Utah’s consumer sentiment rose in June 2023 to its highest level in more than a year (76.3, up from 71.0 in May), according to the Kem C. Gardner Policy Institute’s Survey of Utah Consumer Sentiment. A similar survey by the University of Michigan found an increase of similar magnitude among Americans as a whole (64.4 in June, up from 59.2 in May). (Read More)
Romney demands answers on Chinese Intel Center in Salt Lake City
U.S. Senator Mitt Romney (R-UT) today joined his colleagues, led by Senator Tedd Budd (R-NC), in penning a letter to Attorney General Merrick Garland demanding answers regarding reports of Chinese Intelligence outposts operating inside the United States, including in Salt Lake City, Utah. (Read More)
Salt Lake County Mayor Announces End of the Flooding State of Emergency
Salt Lake County Mayor Jenny Wilson and Director of Flood Control Kade Moncur announced the end of the flooding state of emergency in Salt Lake County. Mayor Wilson declared the emergency on April 13, in anticipation of potentially devastating flooding thanks to an historic snowpack which was 200% of normal.
The county is proud to say we have come through the 2023 spring runoff season successfully. Our work protected lives, homes, and businesses. Now, Salt Lake County is offering locations for residents to drop off their sandbags for free or come pick up free sand through July 15. Find locations at slco.to/dropoff. (Read More)
Mayor Jenny Wilson welcomes Salt Lake County’s new Communications Director
Chris Jones has started as the new Communications Director for Salt Lake County Mayor Jenny Wilson and is the primary media contact for inquiries related to Salt Lake County matters.
Chris has been a television journalist in Utah for 23 years. He started at ABC 4 in 1999 covering the justice system. He joined 2News in 2008 and was the chief education reporter there for the past five years. (Read More)
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