Low-cost survivor Frontier Airlines says it is adding eight routes formerly operated by defunct discounter Spirit Airlines, including service between Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport and Detroit.
Frontier said the routes once flown by Spirit became operational Sunday and Monday, “spanning the U.S. and including major metropolitan areas including Boston, Detroit, Dallas, Las Vegas and more.”
Introductory fares are being offered as low as $39.
“We are pleased to grow our service across the country to ensure low-cost flight options remain available to consumers as they plan their travel this summer and beyond,” said Josh Flyr, vice president of network and operations design at Denver-based Frontier.
Forntier’s announcement over the weekend came as New York-based JetBlue Airways prepared to launch a number of previously announced new flights of its own out of Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International this Thursday.
Spirit was once the leading airline in passengers served at the Broward County airport before shutting down permanently on May 2. Through the month of April, its final full month of operations, Spirit led all airlines in passengers served with a 24% market share. JetBlue was No. 2 with 22.4% and Frontier was No. 9 at 3.8%.
JetBlue is now staking a claim as the No. 1 carrier at Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International, recently announcing its intent to operate up to 150 flights daily at the airport by early next year.
Both Frontier and JetBlue tried and failed to acquire Spirit in recent years. A $3.8 billion offer by JetBlue was blocked by a federal judge on antitrust grounds in 2024.
Spirit subsequently retained its independence but filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection twice, most recently in August 2025. It is now winding-down its business with the auction of assets through the U.S. Bankruptcy Court in the Southern District of New York.