Seven years after it was first announced, the wait is finally over.
06.04.2024 - 12:03 / thepointsguy.com / Airlines
It's been an eventful few months when it comes to U.S. budget carriers' route networks, shifting capacity to reduce their exposure to plummeting fares in prime leisure markets like Florida, especially in Orlando.
Spirit Airlines is the latest with an update with seven new routes that the carrier confirmed Friday.
The Miramar, Florida-based company's latest routes focus on a handful of airports: San Jose Mineta International Airport (SJC) in California, Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport (BWI) in Maryland, Kansas City International Airport (MCI) in Missouri and Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR).
There was also a notable transcontinental flavor to the new routes, which all launch in June or July.
Want more airline-specific news? Sign up for TPG's free biweekly Aviation newsletter.
Here's the full rundown:
Many of the airports included in Friday's route announcement are places where the carrier has put a clear emphasis amid recent months' network adjustments.
Take Portland International Airport (PDX) in Oregon, for instance, which will get a new Spirit route from San Jose. This summer (in June, July and August) Spirit is set to grow its scheduled seats out of Porland by a whopping 153% over that same period in 2023, according to data from aviation analytics firm Cirium.
It's also set to grow seats by more than 50% this summer out of Kansas City, which got two new routes Friday — and by 44% out of San Jose, which gained the most capacity (three new routes) Friday.
Flight delayed or canceled? Here are the best credit cards with trip delay reimbursement
In a statement Friday, San Jose's city manager, Jennifer Maguire, noted these three new Spirit routes the airport is getting this summer help the airport in its goal of "flying simple by offering more affordable direct flights."
Ironically, for its part, Spirit has said it hopes to do more flying that offers travelers flight connections as part of what the airline hopes will be a business turnaround.
Also noteworthy in this latest route announcement: two new transcontinental flights from BWI — to San Jose and Sacramento International Airport (SMF). BWI is the point of origin for a fast-growing list of transcontinental options on Spirit.
The airline previously announced cross-country flights from BWI to Portland and San Diego International Airport (SAN). And Spirit's seats from BWI to the West Coast will be up 140% this summer over last year.
An airline spokesperson could not immediately comment on what, if any, routes the carrier is eliminating in unveiling these seven new routes. However, it's likely there's some give-and-take, since the carrier has been fleet constrained in recent months — a challenge that led Spirit
Seven years after it was first announced, the wait is finally over.
The ongoing Boeing 737 Max 9 fallout is continuing to burn airlines.
Southwest Airlines is shrinking its route map.
Skytrax has released its annual ranking of the world's best airports — and if you're a frequent flyer it may come as little surprise that none in the US made the top 20.
Spirit Airlines is making more changes to its route network.
It's a big moment for Hawaiian Airlines.
Southwest Airlines is making some changes to its route map for travel over the coming months.
After a volatile few years for airfare, prices this summer should be a bit more predictable thanks to stabilizing supply and demand, experts say.
Airlines want permission to operate fewer flights to New York without penalty through most of 2025; they're citing a continued shortage of air traffic controllers that carriers don't expect will sufficiently improve within the next 18 months.
Breeze Airways is deepening its ties to Florida. The startup ultra-low-cost carrier is adding Southwest Florida International Airport (RSW) near Fort Myers as its newest operating base later this year.
United Airlines has scrapped plans for a new transatlantic route this summer, just weeks ahead of its maiden flight. The highly unusual decision to cancel the service comes amid an audit of the company by U.S. regulators.
Perhaps Portugal's Algarve region won't be as popular this summer as United Airlines would've hoped.