Airlines Launch New Flights to Fill Gaps Left by Spirit

by Jessica Puckett
Last updated: 3:50 PM ET, Tue May 5, 2026

Spirit Airlines’ demise was officially announced just three days ago, but US carriers are already moving into the shuttered airline’s former markets.

Surviving budget airlines are launching new routes that are filling gaps in the industry left behind by Spirit. In many cases, these airlines were already planning growth at certain airports where Spirit also operated, and now they’re taking advantage of the opportunity to have an even bigger presence in certain key markets.

In addition to expanding their own flight schedules, many carriers are also offering rescue fares and capping ticket prices to assist Spirit’s customers whose flights were abruptly canceled.

Here’s a look at three budget carriers that are expanding their networks to fill the gaps left behind by the now-defunct Spirit.

Southwest Airlines

Two days after Spirit shuttered, Southwest announced it would be reinforcing its gateways in Las Vegas and Orlando with new flights and expanded schedules.

In Las Vegas, Southwest will add more flight frequencies to 15 existing domestic routes. By spring 2027, the airline plans to launch 10 new routes from Las Vegas, including new international service to destinations like Mexico and Costa Rica, as well as longer domestic flights to Hawaii, Alaska, Boston, and Philadelphia.

In Orlando, the airline will operate its largest-ever flight schedule in 2026, with new or additional flights launching on 23 routes to or from the central Florida market. By 2027, Southwest will operate more than 200 daily departures from Orlando.

JetBlue

Budget carrier JetBlue had already been honing in on its base in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, as a key growth market before Spirit’s demise. Now, JetBlue is expanding even further at the South Florida airport, adding 11 new destinations, additional flight frequencies, and offering a status match to Spirit customers.

Among the 11 new destinations launching from Fort Lauderdale are: Barranquilla, Colombia; Baltimore; Cali, Colombia; Charlotte, N.C.; Columbus, Ohio; Indianapolis; Nashville, Tenn.; Detroit; Houston; Chicago; and Ponce, Puerto Rico.

The new flights are available to book now.

“We’re stepping up for Fort Lauderdale to ensure the availability of air service in this market,” said Marty St. George, JetBlue’s president. “Our focus is simple: make it easier for customers to stay connected with the people and places that matter, while delivering the service, comfort and value they expect from JetBlue.”

Breeze Airways

Moving in on Spirit’s old turf, Breeze Airways announced it would launch four new routes from New Jersey’s Atlantic City Airport (ACY) to leisure markets in Florida and South Carolina. The new routes are all flights that were formerly operated by Spirit, and Breeze will begin launching them this summer and continue through the fall and winter.

Here’s a look at Breeze’s four new routes from Atlantic City, according to local news outlet NJ.com: