Spirit Airlines is one of the largest ultra-low-cost carriers in the United States. Its bright yellow livery is impossible to miss. Charter One Airlines began operating in the 1980s and then transitioned to Spirit Airlines and began scheduled commercial operations in 1992.
When Spirit began commercial operations, it did so with McDonnell Douglas DC-9s and eventually added MD-80s. Today, the airline only operates Airbus A320 family aircraft configured with the maximum number of seatsacity and lower costs. While passengers choose Spirit for its low fares, it comes with a cost: to increase cap sacrificing service and comfort.
Photo: Ivan Cholakov | Shutterstock
The airline has faced a lot of criticism for its operational model and lack of customer service. At the same time, it has built a loyal customer base that values its low fares above anything else. In 2023, Spirit carried more than 44 million passengers.
Two years ago, the airline announced it was merging with Frontier Airlines, its biggest ultra-low-cost competitor. Then, JetBlue announced it wanted to acquire Spirit, and Spirit agreed to a deal with JetBlue, which the US government eventually blocked. In recent years, Spirit has focused on improving its customer experience, investing in digital technology, and expanding its route network.
Spirit is headquartered in Dania Beach, Florida, in the Miami Metropolitan Area. Therefore, its busiest airport is Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport (FLL). Today, Spirit has ten crew bases located in the following cities:
- Atlanta*
- Atlantic City*
- Chicago*
- Dallas*
- Detroit*
- Fort Lauderdale*
- Houston*
- Las Vegas*
- Miami
- Orlando
*denotes maintenance stations and warehouses. there are other cities that are not listed because they do not double as crew bases and maintenance stations.
1. Fort Lauderdale – Atlanta
68,442 seats
Because Spirit only operates Airbus A320 family aircraft, which all have similar capacity, its busiest routes by number of flights and seat offerings are the same. This differs from the ‘Big Three’ carriers, which deploy widebody aircraft on select routes, increasing seat offerings while the number of flights remains low. Spirit’s busiest route in October has up to six daily roundtrips.
The flight from FLL to Hartsfield Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL) is short, 581 miles to be exact. This month, Spirit’s operations on the route vary from three daily roundtrips to six, meaning it can carry nearly 2,700 people between the two airports in one day. In total, there are 308 flights scheduled (154 roundtrips) and 68,442 seats available.
According to data from Cirium, an aviation analytics firm, Spirit deploys three aircraft type between Atlanta and Fort Lauderdale:
- Airbus A320
- Airbus A321
- Airbus A321neo
The A320 is capable of carrying 176 passengers, while the A321 can carry 222 and the A321neo 229.
2. Fort Lauderdale – Newark
45,098 seats
The second-busiest route from Fort Lauderdale is not to another Spirit base, but rather, to a United Airlines hub. The route to Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR) has four daily roundtrips. This amounts to 248 flights in October, and more than 45,000 seats.
Like the route to Atlanta, Spirit deploys several aircraft to Newark, including:
- Airbus A319
- Airbus A320
- Airbus A321
- Airbus A320neo
The smallest of the planes, the A319, can carry 139 passengers. Daily operations break down to four roundtrips and a capacity to transport 713 passengers in each direction.
3. Fort Lauderdale – Chicago
43,860 seats
At number three is another route to a United Airlines hub, but this one is to its busiest airport and its headquarters. In October, Spirit has nearly 44,000 seats available to Chicago O’Hare International Airport (ORD). Though Chicago has two airports, Spirit operates at the larger and busier O’Hare.
Daily operations to Chicago range from two to four daily roundtrips, with an average of 208.9 seats per departure. The 1,182-mile route has a total of 210 flights this month, amounting to 43,860 seats. Only two different aircraft are deployed to Chicago, neither of which are the latest-generation neos. Spirit uses the A320 and A321.
4. Fort Lauderdale – Dallas (Fort Worth)
40,162 seats
Of Spirit’s top five routes, all of them are to hub airports for all three of the ‘Big Three’ US carriers, Delta Air Lines, United, and American Airlines. At number four is Spirit’s route to Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport (DFW), American’s home. This month, the ULCC has just over 40,000 seats to DFW.
Spirit’s operations vary mostly between three to four daily roundtrips throughout the month. Data shows there are 209 flights scheduled in both directions on the 1,119-mile route. The aircraft deployed on the route are:
- Airbus A320
- Airbus A321
- Airbus A320neo
- Airbus A321neo
5. Fort Lauderdale – New York (LaGuardia)
37,996 seats
Rounding out the top five is a route to another New York area airport, LaGuardia Airport (LGA). LGA is a hub for both American Airlines and Delta Air Lines. This month, Spirit has 37,996 seats available to LaGuardia.
JetBlue has the highest number of flights, but does not have the largest seat offering. While JetBlue has 286 flights and Delta has 248, Delta beats JetBlue’s seat offering by nearly 1,000. The Atlanta-based carrier has 47,302 seats, while JetBlue has 46,332.
Source: Simple Flying
