American Airlines, United Airlines, Breeze Air Lines, and now also Spirit AirLines. There are many airlines operating throughout the United States. The flight´s competence has been defined by the frequency of flights, the number of destinations they operate and of course, the offer of cheap flights. After almost leaving the air transport field, Spirit Airlines is back on the market with a proposal that aims to move away from the low-cost companies. Its purpose is to compete with the big American airlines, even surpassing them. What do you think?
Spirit AirLines
Founded by Ned Homefeld in 1983, in Michigan, Spirit Airlines is part of the long list of airlines present in the United States. After the pandemic, the company faced fleet problems, high costs and lost market ground to other airlines. At the end of 2024, a Chapter 11 in the US Bankruptcy Court was filed by the company, alleging financial problems and total debt exceeding $1.5 billion. However, after decisions taken regarding the brand renewal, I managed to get out of bankruptcy, with the aim of distancing myself from the “low-cost” concept that defined it, and wanting to compete with the main American airlines.
Spirit Airlines face wash
A published article reproduces the statements of Kyle Stewart of Live and Let Fly, in which he explains that the brand should no longer be included in the bag of low-cost airlines. Spirit Airlines’ new strategy aims to compete with major brands like American Airlines or Delta’s SkyMiles, offering passenger benefits such as free baggage, seat selection including Bg Front and priority boarding. The difference between them is that Spirit Airlines intends to offer it at a much more affordable price than any airline of the competition. This is not only a benefit for her, but it poses a real threat in the air market both for the most expensive companies and for low-cost ones.
And there is more. The company has also focused its attention on the market niches unattended by the competence. According to Stewart, “it offers more direct flights from secondary cities than other airlines. For airports like my city, Pittsburgh, it is often the only direct choice or more competitive in markets like New York.”
It is not all a bed of roses
After setting up the whole improvement machinery within the company, they were faced with a problem in April. Donald Trump, President of the United States, imposed the tariff measure. 20 per cent (which was later reduced to 10 per cent) of all European Union imports. What was the problem? The fleet of Spirit Airlines is made up of Airbus A320 aircraft, coming from Europe, and it was planned to receive 92 more aircraft to add to the fleet. The increase in personnel underpins much of their improvement strategies, but tariffs are a major impediment.
Given the increase in prices, the company does not know whether it will be able to meet the payment, forcing it to delay or even cancel orders. This would be a severe blow to their recovery process, market positioning and brand´s image.Many are the companies that after the post-Covid pandemic and now, with Trump’s tariffs, are having difficulties to maintain their business, financial conditions and/or operating results.
Worse is the scenario faced by those companies like Spirit Airlines, trying to overcome after a bad run. This problem extends beyond the aviation sector, including any of them working directly or indirectly with material from the European Union. What about  you? What do you think about it? Your company or that of someone else has been affected protests measures?
Find out which airline is back to the JFK´s airport!
