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How aviation weather intelligence affects airlines and airports, the FAA wants radio altimeters replaced,...
Spirit Airlines today announced four new routes at Newark (EWR) with daily nonstop flights to Indianapolis (IND), Los Angeles (LAX), Oakland (OAK) and Pittsburgh (PIT). As a bonus, Spirit will also add a temporary route to Louisville (SDF) giving New Jersey Guests easy access to the Kentucky Derby. The two SDF flights will only operate on May 5 and May 8. Spirit’s New & Existing EWR Routes: Destination: Flights Available: […]
Spirit Airlines and Frontier Airlines are working towards merging the two ultra low-cost carriers (ULCC) through a proposed $6.6 billion alignment. And ahead of the fusion, the two airlines are expanding their Las Vegas operations. Just days after Frontier announced seven additional routes through Harry Reid International, Spirit is following suit with its own new […]
Spirit Airlines has announced that beginning May 25, nonstop service would be available between San Diego International Airport (SAN) and Oakland, California through the Metropolitan Oakland International Airport (OAK). New route For the first time since 2017, Spirit Airlines is […]
Hawaiian Airlines has been rated the most punctual airline in the United States for the 18th year in a row by the United States Department of Transportation (DOT). According to data given by the Department of Transportation last month, the […]
Spirit Airlines has announced the addition of new Pilot and Flight Attendant bases at Miami International Airport (MIA) and Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL) for a total of nine crew bases across the network as the airline continues to add new planes and new airports. The crew bases are projected to initially open this summer once […]
Spirit Airlines has announced two daily nonstop flights from Monterrey International Airport (MTY) to George Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH) and Austin-Bergstrom International Airport (AUS), starting in June 2022. Spirit initially entered Mexico in 2003 when its first flight landed at Cancun International Airport (CUN) and continued to invest in the country by adding new stations […]
Guest Charlie Bolden is a former NASA administrator, astronaut, and naval aviator. Also, first production Falcon 6X arrives, Air Force accidents decline, FAA proposes autopilot training change, Frontier and Spirit propose merger, Delta wants federal no-fly list.
We thought those animals on the Frontier Airlines livery were just hanging around looking cute. Turns out they were biding their time, plotting. And now they've made their move. Frontier just announced its planned purchase of fellow ultra-low-cost-carrier Spirit Airlines. The result will be a low-cost juggernaut, ranking fifth in size among America's airlines. One of our more prescient contributors, Steven Kimball, suggested this merger back in 2016. And from the airlines' perspective the merger makes a lot of sense.
Obviously there's the similarity in their approach to bare-fare pricing and bare-bones service. But also the all-Airbus narrowbody fleet, which will definitely contribute to a smoother merger and operational synergies. Both airlines operate the A320neo, and the new combined fleet will boast great fuel efficiency (cramming a ton of passengers into each plane also helps efficiency, I guess).
What's the upshot for passengers? The airlines are trying to spin this as a positive, with Frontier loyalists getting better access to Spirit's network in Central and South America, and Spirit-ers gaining more destinations in the western United States. The combined airline's heft may help it better compete with the big four. At the same time, this means fewer individual airlines within the ULCC segment, which may drive up fares in that part of the market.
Also it's no sure thing that the government will approve this plan. On one hand, the current administration has expressed a desire to keep inter-airline competition strong, and has been less friendly to mergers and partnerships. On the other hand, the administration is a little more embattled now and may not want to pick this fight. Or they may buy into the two airlines' argument that a larger fifth player in the market is better for competition overall.
Spirit Airlines and Frontier Airlines, two major low-cost airlines of the United States (US) are merging together at a deal valued at $6.6 billion. This would make the newly merged entity the fifth largest airline in the country. The deal […]
Frontier Airlines is about to get a lot larger: Frontier Airlines has agreed to buy Spirit Airlines for $25.83 a share reflecting a cash deal that will be valued at $6.6 billion, including debt. Spirit equity stockholders will receive 1.9126 shares of Frontier stock plus $2.13 in cash for each Spirit share they own. The […]
