JetBlue adds flights out of Fort Lauderdale airport in wake of Spirit’s collapse
A New York-based airline is expanding its footprint at Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport after Spirit Airlines ceased operations, leaving thousands of travelers stranded over the weekend.
Spirit, a Dania Beach-based carrier and a longtime staple for budget-conscious South Florida travelers, had operated out of FLL since the early 1990s.
Now, JetBlue is moving to fill the gap, adding routes and increasing capacity at the airport to pick up displaced passengers and grow its South Florida presence.
Early in the morning on May 2, Spirit canceled all flights across the U.S., Caribbean and Latin America, citing a collapse driven by insurmountable financial pressures and a “sudden and sustained rise in fuel prices.”
“For more than 30 years, Spirit Airlines has played a pioneering role in making travel more accessible and bringing people together while driving affordability across the industry,” Spirit President and Chief Executive Office Dave Davis said in a news release. “... This is tremendously disappointing and not the outcome any of us wanted.”
As of March, Spirit ranked as the top carrier at FLL with a 24.5% passenger share, followed by JetBlue at 22%, according to airport data.
In response to Spirit’s “wind-down,” JetBlue announced it will offer reduced “rescue” fares and expand service at Broward’s largest airport.
The airline capped one-way fares at $99 for customers with proof of a valid Spirit itinerary on the same route, for travel through Wednesday, May 6. Affected passengers can call 1-800-JETBLUE for help.
“With major operations in Fort Lauderdale and San Juan, we’re in a unique position to help Spirit customers get where they need to go and ensure flights remain affordable despite greater demand,” JetBlue Chief Executive Officer Joanna Geraghty said in a news release. “We understand how unsettling it may be for travelers who are suddenly unsure of what to do next.”
JetBlue said the expansion will mark its largest schedule out of FLL, with nearly 130 daily departures expected this summer, “over 75% more daily flights than 2025.”
The airline plans to add six new cities with nonstop routes out of FLL:
- Barranquilla, Colombia (daily starting Oct. 1)
- Baltimore (three times daily starting July 9)
- Cali, Colombia (daily starting Oct. 15)
- Charlotte, North Carolina (three times daily starting July 9)
- Columbus, Ohio (daily starting Nov. 2)
- Indianapolis (daily starting Nov. 2)
Additional nonstop service from FLL will launch July 9 to:
- Nashville, Tennessee (three times daily)
- Detroit (twice daily)
- Houston (three times daily)
- Chicago (twice daily)
- Ponce, Puerto Rico (daily)
JetBlue will also increase frequency on existing routes, including to Austin, Texas; Aguadilla, Puerto Rico; Dallas/Fort Worth; Raleigh-Durham, North Carolina; Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic; and Santiago de los Caballeros, Dominican Republic.
All new routes and frequencies will be available to book starting the night of Monday, May 4.
For affected Spirit team members and crew, JetBlue said it will extend its jumpseat agreement for the next two weeks.
Other U.S. carriers, including Frontier and Southwest, introduced discount fares to help stranded travelers and plans for new summer routes. Delta and American have also offered temporary lower fares to Spirit passengers.
Spirit said most refunds have been processed for flights purchased through the airline with a credit or debit card. Customers who booked flights through travel agents should contact those agencies directly.
Refunds for vouchers, credit or Free Spirit points will be determined through the airline’s bankruptcy process.
For more information on Spirit’s next steps, visit spiritrestructuring.com.
