Niraj Chokshi

The deal, if it materializes, would be a major win for Boeing, which has lost ground to Airbus in one of the world’s largest aviation markets.

Even in its reduced state, the company played an important role in forcing other airlines to keep fares low, some experts said.

Spirit once upended the industry by offering very low fares but was in its second bankruptcy in two years after years of struggle.

The low-fare airline, which has struggled for years, had been trying to secure a $500 million lifeline from the Trump administration.

The chief executive, Scott Kirby, said that buying a smaller airline might not be worth the effort.

A few carriers are making a lot of money while many are struggling. President Trump and industry executives seem to think mergers may be the answer.

The Trump administration is negotiating a deal that would provide as much as $500 million to the struggling company, which is in its second bankruptcy in two years.

As he rejected the idea of a merger of United Airlines and American Airlines, President Trump said someone, including possibly the federal government, should buy or help Spirit.

If tankers do not soon begin crossing the Strait of Hormuz, airlines in Europe may not have enough jet fuel to operate all of their flights.

Airlines used to give away most of their nicest seats, but they have increasingly found ways to persuade people to pay a lot for them.

Regulators, pilots and others in aviation have worried about the kind of runway accident that happened at LaGuardia Airport on Sunday.

The aerospace company said the delay would not prevent it from meeting its 2026 sales goal of about 500 Max jets.