Spirit Airlines is poised to grow in Orange Country, California after it secured a pair of new slots at John Wayne Airport (SNA). The budget carrier will begin service this month and has already announced an additional new route.
How Spirit Airlines Gained Access To SNA
John Wayne is a unique airport. It is extremely popular, but flights are limited, though not in the traditional sense. Typically slot controls refer to carrier ownership, but as Edward Russell notes, that is not the case at SNA. Instead, the number of annual passengers at SNA is capped in a tenuous compromise with local residents over noise pollution.
The effect is the same: incumbent carriers are favored and new entrants find gaining access difficult. But 2020 is a unique year and with other airlines trimming schedules across the board, Spirit finally found a way in.
New Spirit Airlines Service To SNA
On November 17, 2020, Spirit Airlines will launch service from SNA to Oakland (OAK) [twice daily] and Las Vegas (LAS) [once daily]. Both routes are also operated by Southwest Airlines. Now Spirit has obtained two more slots and will continue its assault on Southwest.
Competing directly with American Airlines and Southwest Airlines, Spirit Airlines will add new service between SNA and Phoenix (PHX) on January 6, 2021. Spirit will also add a second daily flight to Las Vegas.
While SNA will never be a big city for Spirit, the airline sees opportunity for growth on key routes. Spirit Vice President of Network Planning John Kirby noted, “It’s not going to be a big market for us” but added “I see a lot of opportunity…It’s a nice complement to our existing L.A. Basin portfolio.”
CONCLUSION
While this is a terrible time for airlines in general, it is a golden era for travelers willing to fly. The addition of Spirit Airlines in SNA will continue to put competitive pressure on fares and provide more options to consumers. My favorite thing about Spirit Airlines is when other airlines match…keep an eye on Southwest and American fares on head-to-head routes.
Will you fly Spirit Airlines out of Orange County?
image: Tomás Del Coro / Flickr
I read in the local Orange County newspaper this week that Air Canada, Sun Country, Allegiant as well as Spirit would gain access to SNA. What is the status of the other 3 carriers.? I imagine Air Canada would want to fly to YVR and Sun Country to MSP but what route does Allegiant want?
Spirit is not cheap at all because they add on a charge for a seat and for an overhead bin for a carry-on
Not sure if u guys are responsible for a cancelled flight on your airlines hasn’t been refunded since sept.17 2020. I say not sure whose responsible because booked through cheapflights. I have sent bank statements and over 20 emails back and forth with non working numbers given. I just saw this ad on google and needed to release pure frustration!!!
I’m sorry Stephanie. Did you try to reach Cheapflights via Twitter? Prepare for a credit card dispute.
No longer JOHN WAYNE AIRPORT.
It is. There was an attempt to cancel him, but it failed.
I have flown 16 trips during Covid. This is hardly the Golden Era of air travel.
Hey Jake
You right it aint a GOLDEN…its the PLATINUM era of air travel:
1.semi empty flights (on my leg NRT-GUM on UA 2 months ago it was 6 cabin crew and only 4 of us 2 in F and 2 in economy…it doesnt get any more private jet than that having 3 FAs per 2 pax.
2.airfares low on legacy carriers ( i dont know for you guys in US but here in Canada June- October period airfares to anywhere were 3 times cheaper than prepandemic…basically you get trice the bang for the same buck…true…stupid masks…no inflight service on dom transborder and a very limited one on long hauls…but you can bring your own food AND is exactly what you like) but then You may have different criterias…like the illogical travel bans and restrictions..or the mandatory 14 days self isolation here in canada…