JetBlue announces to give Spirit’s LaGuardia assets to Frontier

In connection with the planned merger between JetBlue and Spirit Airlines, Frontier Group Holdings, Inc. and JetBlue Airways Corporation today announced that the two companies had signed a legally binding agreement under which JetBlue will sell all of its holdings in Spirit Airlines, Inc. at New York’s LaGuardia Airport to Frontier. These divestitures are a need for the JetBlue-Spirit merger to close and are a part of JetBlue’s upfront commitments stated in the merger agreement with Spirit.

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“We are committed to ensuring that our combination with Spirit preserves ultra-low-cost carrier access in New York,” stated Robin Hayes, CEO of JetBlue. “We are happy that the level of ultra-low-cost carrier service at LaGuardia Airport will be maintained by this agreement with Frontier.”

“We’re pleased to have reached this agreement to acquire Spirit’s slot pairs and leasehold interests at New York’s LaGuardia Airport, pending regulatory approval of the JetBlue-Spirit merger,” said Barry Biffle, President and CEO of Frontier Airlines. It will allow us to dramatically expand our LaGuardia operations and provide customers in the broader New York City area with even more “Low Fares Done Right” services.

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All of Spirit’s assets at LaGuardia, primarily comprising of six gates at the Marine Air Terminal and 22 takeoff and landing slots, will be transferred by JetBlue to Frontier under the terms of the agreement. The divestitures depend on and take place after the planned merger of JetBlue and Spirit, which is also subject to other closing conditions, such as getting permission from the FAA/DOT and the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey. In the first part of 2024, JetBlue plans to complete the purchase with Spirit.