US budget airlines are struggling. Will pursuing premium passengers solve their problems?
4 months ago

US budget airlines are struggling. Will pursuing premium passengers solve their problems?

Associated Press  

DALLAS — Delta and United have become the most profitable U.S. airlines by targeting premium customers while also winning back a significant share of travelers on a tight budget. Those kind of numbers — and of course, some promotion of his own airline — led United Airlines CEO Scott Kirby to declare recently that low-cost carriers were using “a fundamentally flawed business model” and customers hate flying on them. At the same time, the big airlines rolled out and refined their no-frills, “basic economy” tickets to compete directly with Spirit, Frontier and other budget carriers for the most price-sensitive travelers. They have premium economy, they have first-class.” Seeking ‘something a little better’ in the air Low-cost airlines are responding by following the old adage that if you can’t beat them, join them.

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History of this topic

Budget airlines are struggling. Their solution? Go upscale
3 months, 2 weeks ago

Budget airlines are struggling. Their solution? Go upscale

NPR  

Budget airlines are struggling. It follows a similar announcement from another budget carrier, Frontier Airlines, which plans to debut premium seating next year. The upscaling comes as no-frills airlines face headwinds: Industry leader Spirit has reportedly lost more than $2.5 billion since 2020, and the company filed for bankruptcy protection last month. Budget airlines like Frontier and Spirit are really …

Spirit Airlines, Delta: Airlines make billions charging ‘junk fees,’ congressional report says
Trending News
4 months ago

Spirit Airlines, Delta: Airlines make billions charging ‘junk fees,’ congressional report says

CNN  

CNN — Airlines have pocketed billions of dollars in so-called “junk fees” by charging customers extra to select a seat or to carry on bags, according to a Senate subcommittee report published on Tuesday. The report, from the Senate Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations, said that in 2023, United Airlines charged as much as $319 for an extra legroom seat, Spirit …

How Spirit Airlines’ bankruptcy could affect travelers
4 months, 1 week ago

How Spirit Airlines’ bankruptcy could affect travelers

CNN  

CNN — If you planned on traveling aboard Spirit Airlines for the holidays, which filed for bankruptcy Monday, you shouldn’t worry. I would definitely be wary about maybe booking a super future flight with Spirit, knowing that the airline is undergoing this massive transformation and restructuring process.” Spirit said in a statement that as a result of its bankruptcy and …

Spirit Airlines filed for bankruptcy. What does that mean for travelers?
4 months, 1 week ago

Spirit Airlines filed for bankruptcy. What does that mean for travelers?

Associated Press  

NEW YORK — Spirit Airlines, the largest budget carrier in the U.S., filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection Monday. Reassuring customers that the bankruptcy won’t impact their travel plans or loyalty programs will be crucial to Spirit’s short-term ability to preserve business, according to Sarah Foss, global head of legal at financial services company Debtwire. While Spirit says currently scheduled …

Spirit Airlines filed for bankruptcy. What does that mean for travelers?
4 months, 1 week ago

Spirit Airlines filed for bankruptcy. What does that mean for travelers?

The Independent  

For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Spirit Airlines, the largest budget …

US budget carrier Spirit Airlines files for bankruptcy amid severe financial losses
4 months, 1 week ago

US budget carrier Spirit Airlines files for bankruptcy amid severe financial losses

Hindustan Times  

US low-cost carrier Spirit Airlines grappling with financial woes on Monday announced it had filed for bankruptcy as part of a restructuring agreement with its creditors. US low-cost carrier Spirit Airlines grappling with financial woes announced on November 18, 2024, it had filed for bankruptcy as part of a restructuring agreement with its creditors. "Spirit has received backstopped commitments for …

Biggest US budget carrier Spirit Airlines files for bankruptcy as debt payments loom
4 months, 1 week ago

Biggest US budget carrier Spirit Airlines files for bankruptcy as debt payments loom

Live Mint  

Spirit Airlines said Monday that it has filed for bankruptcy protection and will attempt to reboot as it struggles to recover from the pandemic-caused swoon in travel and a failed attempt to sell the airline to JetBlue. Spirit, the biggest U.S. budget airline, has lost more than $2.5 billion since the start of 2020 and faces looming debt payments totaling …

Spirit Airlines Files For Bankruptcy As Financial Losses Pile Up And Debt Payments Loom
4 months, 1 week ago

Spirit Airlines Files For Bankruptcy As Financial Losses Pile Up And Debt Payments Loom

Huff Post  

LOADING ERROR LOADING Spirit Airlines said Monday that it has filed for bankruptcy protection and will attempt to reboot as it struggles to recover from the pandemic-caused swoon in travel and a failed attempt to sell the airline to JetBlue. Spirit, the biggest U.S. budget airline, has lost more than $2.5 billion since the start of 2020 and faces looming …

Spirit Airlines files for bankruptcy as financial losses pile up and debt payments loom
4 months, 1 week ago

Spirit Airlines files for bankruptcy as financial losses pile up and debt payments loom

Associated Press  

Spirit Airlines said Monday that it has filed for bankruptcy protection and will attempt to reboot as it struggles to recover from the pandemic-caused swoon in travel, stiffer competition from bigger carriers, and a failed attempt to sell the airline to JetBlue. Spirit told customers Monday they can book flights and use frequent-flyer points as they ordinarily would, and said …

Spirit Airlines files for bankruptcy protection as financial losses pile up
4 months, 1 week ago

Spirit Airlines files for bankruptcy protection as financial losses pile up

LA Times  

Spirit Airlines has filed for bankruptcy protection after a failed attempt to be acquired by competitor JetBlue. Spirit Airlines said Monday that it has filed for bankruptcy protection and will attempt to reboot as it struggles to recover from the pandemic-caused drop in travel and a failed attempt to sell the airline to JetBlue. Spirit, the biggest U.S. budget airline, …

Spirit Airlines delays release of Q3 financial results as debt restructuring talks heat up
4 months, 2 weeks ago

Spirit Airlines delays release of Q3 financial results as debt restructuring talks heat up

Associated Press  

NEW YORK — Shares of Spirit Airlines plunged Wednesday after the budget airline said that it won’t announce quarterly financial results on time while it continues talks with bond holders to restructure its debt. If it can reach a deal, Spirit said, it would go through “a statutory restructuring” that would protect creditors, employees, customers and companies that do business …

Spirit Airlines prepares for bankruptcy - sparking fears of mass route cancellations across America
4 months, 2 weeks ago

Spirit Airlines prepares for bankruptcy - sparking fears of mass route cancellations across America

Daily Mail  

Spirit Airlines is preparing to file for bankruptcy protection after merger talks with Frontier Airlines nosedived - sparking fears among flyers about mass cancelations. Spirit airlines share price plunged 45 percent in aftermarket trading on Tuesday after news that it was set to file for bankruptcy was reported by the Wall Street Journal. Spirit executives saw the merger with JetBlue …

Spirit Airlines is going upscale. In a break from its history, it will offer fares with extra perks
7 months, 4 weeks ago

Spirit Airlines is going upscale. In a break from its history, it will offer fares with extra perks

Associated Press  

Spirit Airlines is moving farther away from its history as a fee-happy budget airline and will start selling tickets that include some of its most popular extras in bundles. CEO Ted Christie said the changes are “taking low-fare travel to new heights.” They also indicate the deep trouble with Spirit’s longtime business model. The airline with bright yellow planes hasn’t …

JetBlue tells Spirit Airlines that it may terminate its $3.8 billion buyout offer challenged by US
1 year, 2 months ago

JetBlue tells Spirit Airlines that it may terminate its $3.8 billion buyout offer challenged by US

Associated Press  

NEW YORK — JetBlue Airways warned that it may end its bid to acquire low-cost carrier Spirit Airlines as soon as this weekend after a federal judge blocked the deal, sending Spirit shares sharply lower Friday. Spirit shot back that it finds no reason to terminate the deal and will continue to meet its obligations, “and it expects JetBlue to …

Spirit Air stock bounces back a bit, airline says holiday travel boosted revenue
1 year, 2 months ago

Spirit Air stock bounces back a bit, airline says holiday travel boosted revenue

Associated Press  

Spirit Airlines jumped in morning trading Friday after the struggling discount carrier said a strong holiday travel season boosted its fourth-quarter revenue. Spirit said it expects to post revenue of $1.3 billion when it releases its results for the final quarter of 2023 early next month. The airline’s shares lost more than half their value earlier in the week after …

Why US travellers are snubbing budget airlines
1 year, 4 months ago

Why US travellers are snubbing budget airlines

BBC  

Why US travellers are snubbing budget airlines Alamy Budget airlines are seeing revenue dips, while full-service carriers are earning big Major US airlines posted big Q3 2023 profits, but their low-cost counterparts' earnings suffered. Alamy Many budget airlines are finding themselves looking for travellers, as flyers opt for major carriers with competitive prices "This year, there was a pivot to …

Merger vote at Spirit could reshape discount airline market
2 years, 8 months ago

Merger vote at Spirit could reshape discount airline market

The Independent  

For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Scott Keyes, the founder of Scott’s Cheap Flights travel …

Smaller airlines pursue buyouts to bulk up amid recovery
2 years, 11 months ago

Smaller airlines pursue buyouts to bulk up amid recovery

Associated Press  

NEW YORK — Smaller airlines are looking to bulk up to take advantage of an expected recovery in air travel. Fleet size is a key motive for JetBlue’s recent bid to woo budget carrier Spirit Airlines and break up that company’s deal with rival Frontier. Adding Spirit’s current fleet would boost JetBlue’s by 60% to more than 450 planes. “The …

JetBlue makes offer for Spirit Airlines, could spark bidding war
2 years, 11 months ago

JetBlue makes offer for Spirit Airlines, could spark bidding war

LA Times  

JetBlue Airways is trying to buy Spirit Airlines and break up a plan for Spirit to merge with fellow budget airline Frontier. JetBlue Airways has offered to buy Spirit Airlines for about $3.6 billion and break up a plan for Spirit to merge with rival budget carrier Frontier Airlines. In a statement, New York-based JetBlue said combining with Spirit would …

Spirit Airlines: Major US budget carrier reduces size of free carry-on bags
8 years, 1 month ago

Spirit Airlines: Major US budget carrier reduces size of free carry-on bags

The Independent  

Sign up to Simon Calder’s free travel email for expert advice and money-saving discounts Get Simon Calder’s Travel email Get Simon Calder’s Travel email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy From 4 April this year, the volume allowed for the single bag allowed to qualify for …

Budget airlines: 10 things to learn from bargain flier Richard Quest
8 years, 11 months ago

Budget airlines: 10 things to learn from bargain flier Richard Quest

CNN  

Editor’s Note: This article was originally published in April 2016. They know they can’t move away from the model too much because they risk destroying the low-cost basis, but they all want to try to discover new ways of doing things. How Emirates airline can dish out 180,000 meals a day 4. Business travelers fly low-cost too The low-costs’ short-haul …

The cost of flying on the cheap
12 years ago

The cost of flying on the cheap

BBC  

The cost of flying on the cheap Spirit Airlines Spirit Airlines, Ryan Air and Air Asia have made a business out of offering dirt-cheap airfares, but the experience of flying them may not be worth the price. While Spirit has yet to follow its Irish counterpart by charging ₤60 fees for printing boarding passes, they have a price for pretty …

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