Just hours after the collapse of Spirit Airlines on Saturday, rival low-cost carrier JetBlue Airways announced plans to add 11 new routes from its — and what was once Spirit’s — primary Florida hub, Fort Lauderdale.
With the earliest flight starting on July 9, JetBlue listed six new destinations:
- Barranquilla, Colombia — October 1
- Baltimore — July 9
- Cali, Colombia — October 15
- Charlotte, N.C. — July 9
- Columbus, Ohio — November 2
- Indianapolis — November 2
JetBlue said it also would add new nonstop service from the following cities:
- Nashville, Tenn. — July 9
- Detroit — July 9
- Houston — July 9
- Chicago — July 9
- Ponce, Puerto Rico — July 9
“This is really tough news for the thousands of Spirit team members affected, as well as the customers who were planning trips on Spirit,” JetBlue chief executive Joanna Geraghty said.
“We got to know many of their crew members during our acquisition talks, and we’re thinking about everyone whose lives are being disrupted. We want to help fill the void created by this loss.”
JetBlue expects to operate nearly 130 daily departures from Fort Lauderdale this summer, marking the largest operation in its history from the airport, with 75% more daily flights than in 2025.
JetBlue is among several airlines offering to help stranded Spirit passengers in the coming days. Carriers like United and Southwest have published price-capped rescue fares on Spirit’s former routes; fares are roughly $200-$400, depending on the airline.
Spirit collapsed and ceased operations early Saturday after talks with the Trump administration for a bailout fell through. In its absence, prices on routes it once served but now have less competition will likely go up.
