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Home » Spirit » Spirit Airlines Confronts American Airlines In Miami
Spirit

Spirit Airlines Confronts American Airlines In Miami

Matthew Klint Posted onJune 9, 2021November 14, 2023 7 Comments

a man and woman sitting in chairs on a beach

Spirit Airlines will not only launch service to Miami, but add 30 new routes starting this autumn. All but one route will represent a direct challenge to American Airlines, setting up a fare war that may not benefit either airline, but will benefit consumers.

Spirit Airlines Announces It Will Service Miami With 30 New Routes

Florida’s “Hometown Airline” (as Spirit refers to itself) already has a sizable presence in the greater Miami area with its Fort Lauderdale hub, but sees an opportunity for growth at Miami International.

Spirit has unveiled 30 new routes, the first nine slated to being on October 6, 2021 and 21 more to follow over the next five weeks. Flights with an asterisk require government approval.

Destination:

Flights Available:

Start Date:

Atlantic City (ACY)

Daily Oct. 6

Atlanta (ATL)

Daily

Oct. 6

Baltimore (BWI)

Daily Oct. 6
Bogota (BOG)* Daily

Oct. 6

Guatemala City (GUA)*

4x per week Oct. 6
Medellin (MDE)* Daily

Oct. 6

Newark (EWR)

Daily Oct. 6
Port-au-Prince (PAP)* Daily

Oct. 6

Santo Domingo (SDQ)*

Daily Oct. 6
San Salvador (SAL)* 3x per week

Oct. 7

Barranquilla (BAQ)*

Daily Nov. 17
Boston (BOS) Daily

Nov. 17

Cali (CLO)*

Daily Nov. 17
Chicago O’Hare (ORD) Daily

Nov. 17

Cleveland (CLE)

Daily Nov. 17
Dallas-Fort Worth (DFW) Daily

Nov. 17

Denver (DEN)

Daily Nov. 17
Detroit (DTW) Daily

Nov. 17

Hartford-Bradley (BDL)

Daily Nov. 17
Houston Intercontinental (IAH) Daily

Nov. 17

Las Vegas (LAS)

Daily Nov. 17
Myrtle Beach (MYR) Daily

Nov. 17

New York LaGuardia (LGA)

2x per day Nov. 17
Orlando (MCO) Daily

Nov. 17

Philadelphia (PHL)

Daily Nov. 17

Raleigh-Durham (RDU)

Daily

Nov. 17

San Pedro Sula (SAP)* Daily

Nov. 17

San José, C.R. (SJO)*

4x per week Nov. 17
San Juan (SJU) Daily

Nov. 17

St. Thomas (STT) 3x per week

Nov. 18

Even with the surge in Miami, Spirit does not intend to reduce its flying out of Fort Lauderdale Hollywood International Airport (FLL):

We are the largest airline at FLL, and we intend to stay that way. In fact, we’ll reach 100 departures per day at FLL for the first time in July. The demand is there to support growth throughout South Florida. Our flying out of MIA is in support of continued expansion in the region.

Along with Palm Beach International Airport (PBI), it allows us to give our Guests more options when they travel to and from South Florida. It will not result in a reduction in flying at FLL, which remains our primary gateway to Latin America and the Caribbean along with offering service to dozens of domestic destinations.

Spirit’s Announcement Is A Direct Attack On American Airlines

Spirit’s entrance into the Miami market, including on many American Airlines bread and butter routes, will evoke a fierce response. Of the 30 new routes, American Airlines currently serves 29 of them (97%). The only route in which AA will not compete is Miami – Atlantic City, an airport currently only served by Spirit.

Expect a stinging counterattack with bigger planes, more frequencies, and most importantly to consumers, cheaper prices. American Airlines is not a ultra-low-cost carrier like Spirit, but will compete on price to protect its territory.

In addition to competing on ticket price, I also expect American Airlines to offer promotions like free or reduced price checked bags in order to further distinguish its more inclusive pricing from Spirit’s, even on so-called “basic economy” tickets.

But that will evoke a counter-response from Spirit, perhaps with special Free Spirit promotions for MIA flyers or even new service between Miami and Los Angeles or other profitable cities.

CONCLUSION

Travel is once again surging in the United States and Spirit’s huge expansion in Miami–even touching Central America and South America–will put the pressure on American Airlines. While flying Spirit is rarely a pleasure (even in the Big Front Seat), cheap Spirit Airlines flights will mean cheap American Airlines flight, a victory for discerning consumers.

Then again, Spirit Airlines markets its “fit fleet” as one of the youngest in the United States which will soon add wireless internet onboard. While American has offered wi-fi for many years, business customers who have grown weary of tired equipment and dispassionate staff may give the yellow planes a try over American. In fact, Spirit is counting on it…

What are your thoughts on Spirit Airlines’ Miami expansion? Will either carrier win or will consumers be the only winners? How will American Airlines respond to this direct attack on its home turf?

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About Author

Matthew Klint

Matthew is an avid traveler who calls Los Angeles home. Each year he travels more than 200,000 miles by air and has visited more than 135 countries. Working both in the aviation industry and as a travel consultant, Matthew has been featured in major media outlets around the world and uses his Live and Let's Fly blog to share the latest news in the airline industry, commentary on frequent flyer programs, and detailed reports of his worldwide travel.

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7 Comments

  1. Stuart Reply
    June 9, 2021 at 10:32 am

    Really thinking they may be expanding too fast. This has historically not ended well for many airlines. Yet times are certainly different and the legacy carriers can barely differentiate anymore. So it may work this time around.

    My take is the only winner here next season will be Miami. The hotels and restaurants have to be absolutely loving this and wringing their hands for the next seasonal migration of millions to the beach. Joy, $2000K rates at Edition.

    The losers? Miami airport police. The fare war won’t create the only bloodbath.

  2. Jim Reply
    June 9, 2021 at 10:39 am

    Good! I hope they drive AA into BK for mismanaging the airline and holding the American tax payer hostage for bailouts. Sure let’s pay pilots 200k on tax payer dime while Main Street can’t afford bread.

  3. Endlosluft Reply
    June 9, 2021 at 11:19 am

    Too bad American removed seat back entertainment when it comes to differentiating their service offerings 🙂 American OASIS planes sure do seem quite like Spirit.

  4. Scott Reply
    June 9, 2021 at 1:18 pm

    “Confronts in Miami”, that seems appropriate for Miami.

  5. Jerry Reply
    June 9, 2021 at 1:45 pm

    Ohh boy, I can’t wait for the fare war. With the bonus I’ve already hit $13K EQD, and I’ve got 15 SWUs to burn. May as well waste them on cheap fares to Latin America. I wish a N Brazil city would have been in the release. MAO, maybe?

  6. TWA John Reply
    June 9, 2021 at 2:48 pm

    Jim,
    So please explain your recommend salary structure for an Airline Pilot? Most Airline Pilots don’t make $200k. As with all private industry, salary is driven by supply and demand. If you simply looked at requirements on all levels to fill that position you would see that filling those positions is a little more involved than most professions.

  7. Christian Reply
    June 9, 2021 at 3:22 pm

    I lived in Miami for many years and saw the advantages of having two major airlines hub there. One problem I see is that American is already trying to become a LCC by cutting wherever possible rather than trying to actually entice customers with more comfortable seats, a quality frequent flier program, good service, etc. Now the competition there will be even more of a race to the bottom. As anyone who’s had the dubious pleasure of sitting in slimline seats can attest, reaching for the absolute minimum may get you there for cheap but you’re gonna hate it.

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