JetBlue gains LaGuardia slots after Spirit shutdown
JetBlue secured rights tied to up to 12 daily round trips at LaGuardia and is weighing a return to the Marine Air Terminal, CNBC reported.
By Sofia Marchetti · World Affairs Correspondent
2 min read
JetBlue Airways has secured takeoff and landing rights at New York’s LaGuardia Airport that were previously held by Spirit Airlines, CNBC reported, giving the carrier room to grow at one of the country’s most constrained airports. The award covers slots for up to 12 round-trip flights, though JetBlue said the transfer still needs final approval from a court and regulators, according to CNBC.
The move follows Spirit’s shutdown in May, which CNBC described as the largest U.S. airline failure in decades. Spirit’s airport assets are being handled through U.S. Bankruptcy Court in New York, CNBC reported.
LaGuardia’s slots are valuable because airlines cannot freely add flights there. CNBC reported that limits on airspace and airport capacity in New York restrict growth, pushing carriers in some cases to use larger aircraft when they want to carry more passengers.
JetBlue weighs Marine Air Terminal move
JetBlue is also considering shifting its LaGuardia operation to Terminal A, better known as the Marine Air Terminal, according to a staff memo reviewed by CNBC. Spirit used that terminal until it stopped flying in early May, and JetBlue previously operated there before moving to a newer facility years ago, CNBC reported.
In the memo, JetBlue told employees it was evaluating how the newly awarded slots could fit into its route plans, according to CNBC. The airline also told staff that any added flying tied to the slots would not begin until 2027.
JetBlue described the Marine Air Terminal in the memo as a convenient facility that passengers like, CNBC reported. The terminal is an Art Deco building at LaGuardia and has served as a smaller, separate operation from the airport’s larger terminals.
New York plans shift as Florida grows
The LaGuardia development comes as JetBlue adjusts its presence across several airports, CNBC reported. The New York-based airline said last month it would reduce staffing at LaGuardia and Newark Liberty International Airport while increasing service at Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport in Florida.
CNBC reported that JetBlue is in the middle of a major Fort Lauderdale expansion. The carrier has been working to build up service there while reassessing its footprint in the New York area.
JetBlue did not immediately respond to CNBC’s request for comment, the network reported. The company’s plans for the LaGuardia slots remain dependent on the bankruptcy process and final regulatory signoffs, according to JetBlue’s statement cited by CNBC.
This story draws on original reporting from CNBC.