Frontier says a merger would be a better path out of bankruptcy for Spirit, as budget carriers struggle with high costs and competition.

Spirit Airlines rejected Frontier Airlines' second attempt of trying to merge and is moving forward with its bankruptcy plans.

Frontier had pitched the bankrupt airline on a coupledom that it claimed would have created a formidable low-cost competitor in the battle for passengers against American Airlines, Delta, Southwest, and United. While Spirit said a merger could create a “potent competitor in the marketplace” they’re just not that into it.