Spirit Estate to Auction 22 LaGuardia Slots on July 9, Opening Room for 12 Daily Flights
Updated
Updated · The Points Guy · May 28
Spirit Estate to Auction 22 LaGuardia Slots on July 9, Opening Room for 12 Daily Flights
2 articles · Updated · The Points Guy · May 28
July 9 is the start date for the bankruptcy auction of Spirit Airlines' 22 LaGuardia slots, assets the carrier valued at nearly $87 million in April before shutting down on May 2.
Those abandoned slots could let the winning airline add roughly 12 daily flights at tightly constrained LaGuardia, pending bankruptcy court approval before service can begin, likely by fall.
American, Frontier, JetBlue and Southwest are seen as leading contenders, while Delta could face antitrust scrutiny and United's CEO said the carrier does not expect to join consolidation.
Terminal A, where Spirit operated, remains under Port Authority control; its six gates can be reassigned as redevelopment of the Marine Air Terminal continues.
Regulators blocked a merger to save competition. Will this auction now hand Spirit's legacy to a giant, raising fares?
Amid a fatal crash investigation, can LaGuardia's strained system safely handle the 12 new daily flights being auctioned?
Could a Canadian 'dark horse' airline snatch these coveted New York slots from under the noses of US legacy carriers?