JetBlue continues to double down on its operations from Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport (FLL), as the airline adds more flights from the Florida airport in the wake of Spirit Airlines’ collapse. The airline has revealed that it was secretly preparing for months to position itself as a key operator at Fort Lauderdale, with the suspicion that Spirit’s days were numbered.
Since Spirit axed all operations in May, JetBlue was able to swoop in instantly to Fort Lauderdale, and since then, it has positioned itself as the largest operator at the airport and captured the majority of the airline’s market. Today, JetBlue boasts more than 130 daily flights from the airport and has even recruited past Spirit crew members.
JetBlue Takes Over As The Largest Operator At Fort Lauderdale
JetBlue Chief Executive Officer, Joanna Geraghty, spoke with Local10 News about how the airline had been quietly preparing for months to have the capacity and resources to pounce on Fort Lauderdale, as the rest of the country watched as Spirit’s days became numbered. Since Spirit’s collapse, the airline has increased its operations to around 130 daily flights, which will now reach 150 by the end of 2026.
To support the airline’s rapid growth at FLL, the airline has been hiring new team members across multiple departments, which has even seen previous Spirit team members join the JetBlue crew. While Spirit was known for its ultra-low-cost fares, JetBlue has publicly committed to continue offering affordable fares from FLL; however, it noted a caveat that it may not be able to promise the same Spirit-level pricing. Geraghty explains:
“Fort Lauderdale is a fantastic opportunity for us. We knew, as most of the public knew, that Spirit was not great. They filed for bankruptcy twice, so we’ve really been preparing for this day over the last months. We want fares to be affordable, but we want to make sure we offer a great product too.”
Added JetBlue Value From Fort Lauderdale
While the bright yellow aircraft of Spirit have now been replaced by the classic blue color palette of JetBlue, the New York-based airline has promised that it will add additional value for its customers from FLL through competitive base fares, complimentary WiFi, onboard snacks, seatback entertainment, and additional legroom.
JetBlue continues to consider new routes from the airport, with new opportunities for customers to and from the East Coast. For those transiting via Fort Lauderdale, the airline will have up to 370 connecting opportunities. The airline’s ability to quickly redeploy aircraft and personnel to the FLL following Spirit’s collapse allowed the airline to effectively fill the capacity gap through aggressive and localized tactics.
These moves included rescue fares and status matches to lure in previous Spirit passengers, while increasing its terminal footprint to around 30 gates. The airline plans to open a new Airbus A220 pilot base at FLL in 2027, which will cement its presence at the South Florida airport.
How Will JetBlue Continue To Expand At Fort Lauderdale
Before Spirit’s collapse, according to the Bureau of Transportation Statistics, Spirit held around 25% of all operations at FLL according to the Bureau of Transportation Statistics) and served more than 6.6 million passengers a year. JetBlue during this time had around 20% of all flights, and a market share of 5.3 million passengers. Since then, JetBlue has boosted its operations to around 36% market share, according to CNBC.
While the airline’s growth hasn’t slowed down from FLL, five routes are set to commence before the end of the year, which include:
Destination | Start Date |
|---|---|
Barranquilla | October 1 |
Cali | October 15 |
Indianapolis | November 2 |
Columbus Glenn | November 2 |
San Diego | November 19 |
JetBlue’s quick action following Spirit’s collapse is a prime example of how airlines must be able to adapt and move quickly as the market changes. While many of us are sad to see the bright yellow aircraft of Spirit no longer flying, JetBlue has capitalized quickly on the airline’s collapse and now reigns supreme as the largest operator at what was once the jewel in the Spirit crown.
