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Yesterday, I wrote about 11 routes being cut by Spirit Airlines as it navigates its second bankruptcy and works to restructure. United wasted no time in pouncing on this opportunity and today shared that it is adding flights to its schedule including two new routes from Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR).
As of January 6th, United will add one additional daily frequency to the following routes:
- Chicago O’Hare International Airport (ORD) to/from Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport (FLL)
- Chicago O’Hare International Airport (ORD) to/from Las Vegas Harry Reid International Airport (LAS)
- Chicago O’Hare International Airport (ORD) to/from Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport (MSY)
- Chicago O’Hare International Airport (ORD) to/from Orlando International Airport (MCO)
- Houston’s George Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH) to/from Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL)
- Houston’s George Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH) to/from Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport (BWI)
- Houston’s George Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH) to/from Las Vegas Harry Reid International Airport (LAS)
- Houston’s George Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH) to/from Miami International Airport (MIA)
- Houston’s George Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH) to/from Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport (MSY)
- Houston’s George Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH) to/from Orlando International Airport (MCO)
- Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) to/from Las Vegas Harry Reid International Airport (LAS)
- Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR) to/from Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport (FLL)
- Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR) to/from Orlando International Airport (MCO)
New routes that United will launch, include Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR) to/from both Columbia Metropolitan Airport (CAE) and Chattanooga Metropolitan Airport (CHA). These two cities are in direct response to Spirit’s cuts. In addition to the domestic additions, United is also strengthening its network in Central America with the following additional flights:
- Houston’s George Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH) to/from Guatemala City’s La Aurora International Airport (GUA) (adding three more weekly)
- Houston’s George Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH) to/from El Salvador International Airport Saint Óscar Arnulfo Romero y Galdámez (SAL) (adding three more weekly)
- Houston’s George Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH) to/from San Pedro Sula’s Ramón Villeda Morales International Airport (SAP) (adding one more weekly)
Finally, United will fly larger aircraft on key routes such as Chicago O’Hare International Airport (ORD) to/from New York LaGuardia Airport (LGA) to meet demand.
Patrick Quayle, United’s Senior Vice President of Global Network Planning and Alliances, shared:
If Spirit suddenly goes out of business it will be incredibly disruptive, so we’re adding these flights to give their customers other options if they want or need them.”
The comment above tries to make United sound so giving, but this is a power move and one that will further make customers think of booking away from Spirit on other routes.
Anthony’s Take: United wasted no time in sweeping in and adding flights where Spirit made cuts. Let’s see if United continues to add as Spirit further adjusts its route network.
(Image Credits: United and Spirit.)
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Advertiser & Editorial Disclosure: The Bulkhead Seat earns an affiliate commission for anyone approved through the links above This compensation may impact how and where links appear on this site. We work to provide the best publicly available offers to our readers. We frequently update them, but this site does not include all available offers. Opinions, reviews, analyses & recommendations are the author’s alone, and have not been reviewed, endorsed, or approved by any of these entities.
