UPDATE 1-JetBlue, Spirit appealing judge’s ruling blocking merger

JetBlue Airways and Spirit Airlines said on Friday they will appeal a judge's ruling this week that blocked the air carriers' planned tie-up. U.S. District Judge William Young in Boston on Tuesday said JetBlue's planned $3.8 billion acquisition of ultra-low-cost carrier Spirit was anticompetitive and would harm consumers, ruling in favor of the Justice Department and six states. The airlines filed a notice late on Friday that they will appeal his ruling to the 1st U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals.