The Department of Justice filed a lawsuit last year to block the merger between JetBlue Airways and Spirit Airlines. Earlier in January, a federal judge rendered his decision and agreed with the DOJ that a combination of the two airlines would be anti-competitive.

The DOJ believed it would be monopolistic and violate antitrust law and argued it would drive fares up and eliminate a low-fare option for consumers.

There would be a lack of competition, the DOJ said.

Now, there might not be any competition at all. Not if Spirit Airlines goes away because the merger was not completed.

Almost immediately after the verdict, financial analysts covering the airlines thought Spirit might go bankrupt due to its mounds of debt. Now, hindsight is 20/20, of course, but if the financial analyst could see it so quickly, then so could the experts representing the government.

Sometimes, you just have to look at the larger picture.

Yes, a merger would have helped JetBlue be even more competitive with the Big Four airlines. But the $3.8 billion merger would have helped Spirit as well and maybe even saved it from bankruptcy, according to the analysts.

Having fewer people on the unemployment line because of a merger sounds infinitely more appealing than the alternative.

The DOJ set a precedent here. Now, you just have to wonder how it affects future dealings, such as the upcoming potential merger between Hawaiian Airlines and Alaska Airlines.?

Not only has this JetBlue and Spirit Airlines merger been blocked, but the DOJ successfully broke up the Northeast Alliance between JetBlue and American Airlines last year.

Needless to say, it's a topsy-turvy time in the airline industry.

And it��s only going to get crazier.

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