How would that have changed the plan of the acquiring company and the law?

In the history of approved airline mergers - the parties ALWAYS tailor their plans to satisfy the doj and courts. Therefore they succeed.

If the DOJ says something is bugging them about the details of the merger, all the company has to do is say “ok - we will do X”. Suit dropped or judge approval.

Ever wondered why JB was dead set on sticking to the plan that conveniently bothered the DOJ? Hint: they never wanted it to be approved. Now that was genius. All the while you’re hung up on some judge’s decision as if that was the nail in the coffin. You were NEVER going to be a JB pilot without interviewing there. Spirit was NEVER going to be bought be JB. They wanted nothing to do with NKS.