JetBlue has won the bidding war for 22 former Spirit Airlines takeoff and landing slots at New York LaGuardia Airport (LGA) with a $58.5 million bid, beating Frontier Airlines and positioning itself for a significant expansion at one of America’s busiest and most slot-constrained airports.
If approved by the court, the FAA, and other regulators, the acquisition will allow JetBlue to add 11–12 daily round-trip flights from LaGuardia starting next year. The airline is also exploring a move back to the iconic Marine Air Terminal (Terminal A), a historic Art Deco terminal previously used by Spirit Airlines and once home to JetBlue itself.
The opportunity comes after Spirit Airlines ceased operations in May, creating a rare opening at LaGuardia—an airport where new slots are almost impossible to obtain. JetBlue believes operating from Terminal A could lower costs and improve efficiency while strengthening its New York network.
Currently holding just 3.4% of LaGuardia’s market share, JetBlue could increase its presence to around 4.6%, though the airport will remain dominated by Delta Air Lines and American Airlines.
The deal is expected to receive final approval by early August, with the slot transfer potentially completed by October.
