Summary
- Spirit has cut 10 airports from its network prior to now yr.
- March-May 2024 capability is up by 5% versus last yr, lower than other carriers.
- It has bet on Florida helping, as seats on the market have grown significantly, mainly due to its Fort Lauderdale stronghold.
Ultra-low-cost Spirit is the seventh-largest airline serving the US, based on examining flights using OAG data. While all airlines remove airports from their networks, seemingly struggling Spirit has cut 10 prior to now yr: Bucaramanga; Aguadilla; Charleston (WV); Denver; Lima; Los Cabos; Manchester; Monterrey; Ponce; and Puerto Vallarta.
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Up To 58 Day by day Flights: The Huge Boston-Greater NYC Market Examined
Spirit is returning, effectively replacing JetBlue to Newark.
Spirit: a summary
This text was researched and written on March 2. Based on schedules supplied by Spirit to OAG, the carrier has 14.90 million two-way seats on the market between March and May 2024. Things could also be fine-tuned toward the top of this era.
Source: OAG. Figure: James Pearson
Capability is up by a large 40% versus 2019 to a record high. Nevertheless, it has increased by a way more reasonable 5% year-on-year, partly reflecting its more limited capability growth plan, grounded aircraft (including due to the continued Pratt & Whitney engine problem), and retired aircraft. The capability discipline will hopefully contribute towards higher financial performance because the summer approaches.
Three developments are notable:
- Florida: 10% more seats than last yr, mainly driven by Fort Lauderdale (see below)
- Other states: no real change
- International: -20%
While Spirit’s seats increased by 5%, fellow ULCC Frontier is +26%, and all US capability generally is +7%. Excluding the pandemic years and 2024, Spirit has grown by 10-30% yearly since 2014.
Photo: Airbus
Spirit’s top 10 airports
The ULCC’s March-May 2024 network comprises 82 airports. This excludes any of the ten facilities that left its portfolio in this era.
Not surprisingly, Fort Lauderdale continues to be its leading airport. It has doubled down on where it is powerful and dominant and where it believes the chance is more significant and it could possibly win. This growth is despite its network from the airport falling by one route year-on-year.
Photo: Spirit
The numerous declines in Las Vegas, Los Angeles, and Atlanta are apparent. They’re major cities, but Spirit faces considerable competition from Frontier and others. Notice the expansion at Newark, from which Spirit will again fly to Boston (amongst other added routes).
Rank |
Airport |
Seats on the market |
Change vs. 2023 |
---|---|---|---|
1 |
Fort Lauderdale |
1.86 million |
+16% |
2 |
Orlando International |
1.53 million |
-3% |
3 |
Las Vegas |
1.20 million |
-13% |
4 |
Detroit |
554,000 |
+1% |
5 |
Los Angeles |
534,000 |
-22% |
6 |
Atlanta |
528,000 |
-20% |
7 |
Dallas Fort Value |
517,000 |
+8% |
8 |
Newark |
514,000 |
+22% |
9 |
Houston Intercontinental |
461,000 |
+5% |
10 |
Chicago O’Hare |
444,000 |
+14% |
* Double for each ways |
Fort Lauderdale-Atlanta is its #1 route
While subject to vary, Spirit plans to operate 336 routes between March and May, based on a minimum of three flights. Some 290 routes are domestic and 46 international. The 581-mile (935 km) link between Fort Lauderdale and Atlanta has more seats on the market than every other route. It’s served 5 every day (down from an of 6 every day last yr).
Photo: Kevin Porter | Shutterstock
Spirit is one in every of five carriers out there. It competes against (Delta; as much as 13 every day), Southwest (4 every day), Frontier (as much as 2 every day), and JetBlue (every day). About 60% of Spirit’s passengers on this airport pair are point-to-point; they do not travel anywhere else.
Will you be flying Spirit soon? Tell us within the comment section.