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Spirit Airlines cuts 13 routes just days after big expansion

March 05, 2024
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4 min read
Spirit Airlines AIrbus A320 Newark A321
Spirit Airlines cuts 13 routes just days after big expansion
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You won't find a yellow Airbus jet on 13 current routes this summer.

That's because Spirit Airlines — the ultra-low-cost carrier that exclusively flies yellow Airbus A320-family jets — filed plans over the weekend to cut service on more than a dozen routes beginning in April, as first seen in Cirium schedules and later confirmed by a carrier spokesperson.

The cuts are far-reaching and include routes that were supposed to relaunch this summer, as well as flights that have been operating throughout the winter season. Spirit told TPG that these "changes are seasonal adjustments to our network," though the carrier hasn't filed resumption dates for any of the affected routes, according to Cirium schedules.

CIRIUM

You'll find the full list of cuts below, but 12 of the affected routes connect domestic markets. Notably, Spirit is exiting three routes from Miami, an airport that it only entered in 2021.

Spirit, which is based in nearby Fort Lauderdale, unveiled a massive growth plan in Miami during the pandemic aimed at disrupting American Airlines' stronghold on the market. American is Miami's only hub carrier, and Spirit went head-to-head against the incumbent on most of its more than 30 routes.

Going forward, Miami to Boston will be served by American, Delta Air Lines and JetBlue, while Miami to Cleveland and Detroit will be served by American, as well as Frontier Airlines and Delta, respectively. It's possible that Spirit felt that these were some of its most competitive markets from Miami, so it decided to cede its traffic to competitors.

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Other interesting cuts include international service from Houston to El Salvador. Once the Houston flight ends, Spirit will remain in El Salvador with daily nonstops from Fort Lauderdale.

All of these cuts come just days after Spirit announced seven new routes, including two to Puerto Rico.

That said, it's mostly been bad news for Spirit's network in recent months. Late last year, the airline pulled out of Denver, one of the busiest airports in the country. The airline also postponed plans to fly to Tulum.

In both cases, the airline cited ongoing operational constraints related to the defects on a number of Airbus A321neo engines manufactured by Pratt & Whitney as a key reason for the cuts.

Of course, the airline must also start crafting a winning plan B now that the merger with JetBlue has officially been canceled.

Spirit's 13 route cuts

OriginDestinationEffective date
Atlanta
Fort Myers, Florida
April 9
Boston
Fort Myers
May 7
Boston
Tampa
May 7
Cleveland
Atlanta
Service canceled
Dallas-Fort Worth
Oakland, California
Service canceled
Houston
El Salvador
Service canceled
Las Vegas
Boston
Service canceled
Las Vegas
Cleveland
April 9
Los Angeles
Memphis
April 9
Orlando
Raleigh-Durham, North Carolina
Service canceled
Miami
Boston
May 7
Miami
Cleveland
Service canceled
Miami
Detroit
May 7

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Featured image by ZACH GRIFF/THE POINTS GUY
Editorial disclaimer: Opinions expressed here are the author’s alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, airline or hotel chain, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of these entities.

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  • Some may have trouble using Uber and other dining credits
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  • $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card to dine at U.S. Resy restaurants or make other eligible Resy purchases. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
  • $120 Dining Credit: Satisfy your cravings, sweet or savory, with the $120 Dining Credit. Earn up to $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, and Five Guys. Enrollment required.
  • Explore over 1,000 upscale hotels worldwide with The Hotel Collection and receive a $100 credit towards eligible charges* with every booking of two nights or more through AmexTravel.com. *Eligible charges vary by property.
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