Edward Russell is a contributor for TPG. An AvGeek at heart, he covered the airline business at FlightGlobal for eight years and previously covered finance in New York and Hong Kong.
May 12, 2026 • 7 min read
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Quick summary
Several airlines have introduced new routes and increased frequencies to fill gaps left by Spirit Airlines' shutdown in May.
Major airports affected include Fort Lauderdale, Orlando, Newark, Detroit and Atlanta, with most additions focused on existing airline hubs or bases.
New and expanded services span both domestic and international destinations, with start dates ranging from July through December and some into 2027.
No airline has established a new hub as a result of Spirit's exit, but schedule adjustments are ongoing.
What to consider
Route additions and increased frequencies vary by airline and airport, with some services launching as late as March 2027.
Schedules remain subject to change, so travelers should verify availability before booking.
Most new routes are concentrated at airports where airlines already have a significant presence.
What you'll miss from the article
A detailed breakdown of which airlines are adding specific routes, including start dates and frequency changes at each affected airport.
Generated by AI with support from our editorial team.
Updated with additional new routes on May 28.
Airlines are stepping up with new flights to fill the gap left by Spirit Airlines.
Allegiant Air, American Airlines, Avianca, Breeze Airways, Delta Air Lines, Frontier Airlines, JetBlue Airways, Southwest Airlines and United Airlines have all added flights and routes in former Spirit markets since the discount carrier shut down May 2, airline statements and schedule data from aviation analytics firm Cirium show.
Spirit flew just under 2% of all domestic flights and seats, according to Cirium data — not a large airline but not an insignificant one either. Its five largest destinations (by seats) were: Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport (FLL), Orlando International Airport (MCO), Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR), Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport (DTW) and Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL).
Other airlines' additions, at least so far, are at airlines one would expect: Delta at DTW, JetBlue at FLL, and Southwest at MCO and Harry Reid International Airport (LAS) in Las Vegas — all existing bases or hubs for each respective carrier.
No airline is taking advantage of Spirit’s collapse to open a new base or hub — at least not yet.
Here are the airlines that have added former Spirit routes in the past week (but note that future schedules are subject to change):
Allegiant
FLL-Boston Logan International Airport (BOS): From Oct. 1.
FLL-Omaha Eppley Airfield (OMA): From Oct. 2.
FLL-Pittsburgh International Airport (PIT): From Oct. 2.
FLL-Kansas City International Airport (MCI): From Oct. 2.
An Allegiant plane at Newark airport. (ZACH GRIFF/THE POINTS GUY)
American
O'Hare International Airport (ORD)-ATL: One additional daily flight for a total of five daily flights after Sept. 9
ORD-FLL: One additional daily flight for a total of two daily flights after Sept. 9
ORD-LaGuardia Airport (LGA): One additional daily flight for a total of 11 daily flights after Oct. 5
Philadelphia International Airport (PHL)-FLL: Two additional daily flights for a total of six daily flights after Oct. 5
SEAN CUDAHY/THE POINTS GUY
Avianca
FLL-Ernesto Cortissoz Barranquilla International Airport (BAQ) in Barranquilla, Colombia: New daily service starting July 15
FLL-El Dorado International Airport (BOG) in Bogotá: One additional daily flight for a total of two daily flights, starting June 1
FLL-Alfonso Bonilla Aragón International Airport (CLO) in Cali, Colombia: New daily service starting July 15
ZACH GRIFF/THE POINTS GUY
Breeze
Atlantic City International Airport (ACY)-MCO: New daily service starting July 3
ACY-Southwest Florida International Airport (RSW): New thrice-weekly service Tuesdays, Thursdays and Sundays, starting Oct. 22
ACY-Myrtle Beach International Airport (MYR): New twice-weekly service Thursdays and Sundays starting Oct. 22
ACY-Palm Beach International Airport (PBI): New thrice-weekly service Tuesdays, Thursdays and Sundays starting Dec. 17
A Breeze Airways Airbus A220. SEAN CUDAHY/THE POINTS GUY
Delta
BOS-RSW: One additional daily flight for a total of three daily starting Dec. 19
BOS-Miami International Airport (MIA): One additional daily flight for a total of four daily starting Dec. 19
BOS-MCO: One additional daily flight for a total of five daily starting Dec. 19
DTW-ATL: One additional daily flight for a total of 12 daily flights after July 7
DTW-MCO: One additional daily flight for a total of seven daily flights after July 7
MCO-ATL: One additional daily flight for a total of 17 daily flights, starting Nov. 9
MCO-LGA: One additional daily flight for a total of eight daily flights, starting Nov 9
A Delta Air Lines Boeing 737-800 pushes back at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA). SEAN CUDAHY/THE POINTS GUY
Frontier
DFW-Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport (MSY): New four-times weekly service Tuesdays, Thursdays, Saturdays and Sundays from July 5
DTW-DFW: Three additional weekly flights for a total of 10 weekly flights starting July 6
DTW-FLL: New daily service starting July 5
DTW-LAS: New daily service starting July 5
DTW-MCO: One additional daily flight for a total of two daily flights starting July 5
DTW-PHL: New daily service starting July 5
LAS-Hollywood Burbank Airport (BUR): 10 additional weekly flights for a total of two daily starting July 5
LAS-MCI: New four-times weekly service Mondays, Thursdays, Fridays and Sundays starting July 5
LAS-Los Angeles International Airport (LAX): Four additional weekly flights for a total of 18 weekly flights starting July 5
LAS-Reno Tahoe International Airport (RNO): One additional daily flight for a total of two daily, starting July 5
MCO-Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport (BWI): One additional daily flight for a total of three daily starting July 5
MCO-BOS: New daily service starting July 5.
MCO-Charlotte Douglas International Airport (CLT): Four additional weekly flights for a total of 11 weekly flights starting July 5
MCO-John Glenn Columbus International Airport (CMH): Three additional weekly flights for a total of 10 weekly starting July 5
MCO-Memphis International Airport (MEM): New thrice-weekly service on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Sundays starting July 5
MCO-Nashville International Airport (BNA): Four additional weekly flights for a total of 11 weekly flights starting July 5
MCO-MSY: Four additional weekly flights for a total of 11 weekly flights starting July 5
MCO-Pensacola International Airport (PNS): New daily service starting July 5
MCO-Richmond International Airport (RIC): New thrice-weekly service on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Sundays starting July 5
Frontier Airlines aircraft at Denver International Airport (DEN). SEAN CUDAHY/THE POINTS GUY
JetBlue
FLL-Austin-Bergstrom International Airport (AUS): One additional daily flight for a total of three, starting July 9
FLL-Rafael Hernandez Airport (BQN): One additional daily flight for a total of two, starting July 9
FLL-BWI: New thrice-daily service starting July 9
FLL-BAQ: New daily service starting Oct. 1
FLL-Alfonso Bonilla Aragon International Airport (CLO): New daily service starting Oct. 15
FLL-CLT: New thrice-daily service starting July 9
FLL-ORD: New twice-daily service starting July 9
FLL-CMH: New daily service starting Nov. 2
FLL-Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport (DFW): One additional daily flight for a total of three, starting July 9
FLL-DTW: New twice-daily service starting July 9
FLL-Houston Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH): New thrice-daily service starting July 9
FLL-Indianapolis International Airport (IND): New daily service starting Nov. 2
FLL-BNA: New thrice-daily service starting July 9
FLL-Mercedita International Airport (PSE) in Ponce, Puerto Rico: New daily service starting July 9
FLL-Raleigh-Durham International Airport (RDU): One additional daily flight for a total of three, starting July 9
FLL-Cibao International Airport (STI) in Santiago, Dominican Republic: One additional daily flight for a total of two, starting July 9
FLL-Las Americas International Airport (SDQ) in Santo Domingo: Two additional daily flights for a total of three, starting July 9
Luis Muñoz Marín International Airport (SJU)-BWI: New daily service starting Nov. 2
A JetBlue plane at Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport (FLL). EVA MARIE UZCATEGUI/BLOOMBERG/GETTY IMAGES
Southwest
LAS-BOS: New service starting March 2027
LAS-McGhee Tyson Airport (TYS): New service starting March 2027
LAS-MIA: New service starting March 2027
LAS-PHL: New service starting March 2027
While none are former Spirit routes, a Southwest spokesperson said the additions are in response to the discounter's collapse.
KEVIN CARTER/GETTY IMAGES
United
IAH-FLL: Two additional daily flights for a total of six daily, except Tuesdays and Wednesdays, starting July 1
LAX-FLL: New five-times weekly service on Mondays, Thursdays, Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays starting Nov. 1
EWR-DTW: One additional daily flight for a total of seven daily starting Nov. 1
EWR-LAS: One additional daily flight for a total of nine daily starting Nov. 1
EWR-RDU: One additional daily flight for a total of seven daily starting Nov. 1
By commenting, you agree to our Community Guidelines to help create a positive space for conversation. The responses below are not provided or commissioned by the bank advertiser, our partners, or The Points Guy (“TPG”). They have not been reviewed, approved, or otherwise endorsed by any of these parties. All responses are submitted by individual contributors, and neither the bank advertiser, our partners, nor TPG are responsible for ensuring that all posts and/or questions are answered.
