IN ONE of the biggest shake-ups of the US aviation industry in more than a decade, Spirit Airlines and Frontier Group Holdings have announced a “definitive merger agreement”. If completed as planned, it will create America’s largest ultra-low fare airline.
The combined business will offer more than 1,000 daily flights onboard its 283 aircraft. These jets will ply 650+ nonstop routes to and from 145+ destinations in 19 countries, representing a serious escalation in the battle for priceconscious passengers.
Responding to the news, Ted Christie, president and CEO of Spirit said: “We are thrilled to join forces with Frontier to further democratise air travel. This transaction is centred around creating an aggressive ultra-low fare competitor to serve our guests even better, expand career opportunities for our team members and increase competitive pressure, resulting in more consumer-friendly fares for the flying public. We look forward to uniting our talented teams to shake up the airline industry while also continuing our commitment to excellent guest service.”
William A Franke, chair of the Frontier Board of Directors and the managing partner of Indigo Partners, Frontier’s majority shareholder, added: “We worked jointly with the Board of Directors and senior management team across both carriers to arrive at a combination of two complementary businesses that together will create America’s most competitive ultra-low fare airline for the benefit of consumers.”