Spirit Airlines slashes 12 routes in latest network adjustment
Spirit Airlines is making yet another big change to its network.
This time, the Dania Beach, Florida-based carrier is exiting 12 domestic routes, as first seen in Cirium schedules and later confirmed by an airline spokesperson.
Below is the full list of affected routes. All of the routes were originally scheduled to be operated this spring, but the airline now plans to cease operating them by the end of March.
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- Atlanta — New York
- Burbank, California — Oakland, California
- Burbank, California — San Jose, California
- Indianapolis — Fort Myers, Florida
- Los Angeles — Reno
- Los Angeles — Salt Lake City
- Los Angeles — San Jose, California
- Miami — Minneapolis-St. Paul
- Miami — Raleigh-Durham
- New Orleans — San Juan, Puerto Rico
- New York — New Orleans
- New York — West Palm Beach, Florida
Spirit said five of the affected routes were intended as seasonal spring break routes, but with this latest network update, Spirit doesn't intend to fly them going forward. This includes service from New York's LaGuardia Airport (LGA) to Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport (MSY) and Palm Beach International Airport (PBI) in Florida, as well as service from Miami International Airport (MIA) to Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport (MSP) and Raleigh-Durham International Airport (RDU).
Finally, flights between Indianapolis International Airport (IND) and Fort Myers' Southwest Florida International Airport (RSW) were also considered seasonal for the spring break period.
In a statement confirming the cuts, Spirit shared that "we routinely evaluate our network and make adjustments to support the company's business strategy based on current market and operating conditions. As part of this process, we adjusted our upcoming schedule to focus on our strongest performing routes in alignment with our current fleet size."
Spirit declared bankruptcy in November, and the airline is trying to return to profitability as soon as possible.
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One way for the carrier to do that is to shrink its network to focus on its best-performing markets. After all, the airline has accumulated upward of $2 billion in net losses since 2020.
In addition to a slew of recent network shake-ups, the airline has also restructured its commercial strategy, abandoning many elements of the bare-bones business model in exchange for fares that include ancillaries such as bags, seats and even snacks and drinks.
The jury is still out on whether these changes will solve the airline's woes.
It's worth noting that Spirit isn't exclusively shrinking its way to profitability. The airline recently added a new route between Nashville and Columbus, Ohio, and it's resuming service on 15 routes during the spring travel window.
Right now, Spirit's flights are only bookable through May 21, so it remains to be seen what the airline's network will look like for the busy summer season.
Of course, stay tuned to TPG for the latest.
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