Contour Airlines and Spirit Airlines are teaming up to bring more flights to underserved communities throughout the United States.
Tennessee-based Contour participates in the Department of Transportation’s Essential Air Service (EAS) program, which guarantees a level of minimum air service to smaller communities.
The carrier serves 22 cities in the program, making it the second largest carrier to participate in the initiative. Contour generally operates flights between EAS cities and the hubs of larger airlines like American, United, and Alaska Airlines through interline agreements.
Under its new partnership with Contour, Spirit will launch new flights between Contour’s ESA cities and major leisure destinations, making low-cost, vacation-focused airlift available throughout the smaller communities.
The first route pairings to launch under the new agreement will be announced later this summer. “EAS communities no longer need to choose between national connectivity and low fares,” said Ben Munson, president of Contour. “The combination of service from our two airlines is the best formula to grow passenger traffic in these underserved airports."
The airlines said that their partnership will eliminate the need for travelers in areas with underserved airports to drive long distances to get to larger hubs.
"Our new partnership with Contour gives us an exciting opportunity to grow our network and explore low-cost entry into new markets that currently have limited service," said John Kirby, vice president of network planning at Spirit Airlines. "We look forward to welcoming new Guests onboard and providing convenient connectivity in historically underserved regions through Spirit's affordable, high-value service."
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