JetBlue returns to Charlotte airport, as Spirit collapse prompts more airline moves
One day after Spirit Airlines shut down, JetBlue announced it will be coming back to the Charlotte airport. JetBlue and at least two other airlines said they were looking to help stranded Spirit customers and expanding routes, including at CLT.
The New-York based JetBlue had ended service in October 2024 because of low customer demand, after nearly two decades in Charlotte. Now, service between Charlotte Douglas International Airport and Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International in Florida will be offered three times a day, starting July 9.
The airline started service in Charlotte in 2006 with flights to New York’s John F. Kennedy International Airport.
When JetBlue ended operations in 2024, its only nonstop route from Charlotte Douglas was to Boston. At the time, JetBlue accounted for less than 1% of flights at the airport, according to Charlotte airport officials.
Spirit Airlines ended its operation on Friday after failing to secure a $500 million bailout from the Trump administration to help with its ongoing financial struggles. Spirit made up less than 2% of flights at CLT.
Airlines step in to assist Spirit passengers, displaced workers
JetBlue is helping stranded Spirit customers and employees impacted by the airline’s shutdown, the company said. The airline is offering $99 one-way “rescue fares” to help stranded travelers, through Wednesday, May 6.
Other airlines such as American Airlines and Frontier Airlines, are also offering deals to help customers and employees.
Frontier serves more than 100 routes previously flown by Spirit, including five in Charlotte. These include daily flights from CLT to Fort Lauderdale, New York’s LaGuardia Airport and Orlando. Frontier also offers twice-daily flights to Orlando and Philadelphia.
To help travelers, Frontier is offering 50% off base fares across its network through Nov. 19. Customers can book by May 10.
American Airlines, which accounts for 90% of flights at its hub in Charlotte, is offering rescue fares on Spirit routes where American also offers nonstop service, according to a recent announcement. American serves 70 of the 72 airports Spirit served, and 67 of the routes Spirit operated.
For CLT, this includes multiple daily nonstop routes to Ft. Lauderdale, Newark, New York, Miami, Orlando and Philadelphia.
American is also looking at other ways to increase capacity by using larger aircraft and adding flights on critical routes to support as many affected passengers as possible.
Those customers can book tickets at aa.com or through the American app.
American is also working to provide transportation for Spirit workers who have been displaced. The Fort Worth, Texas-based airline, which operates its second-largest hub at CLT, said its looking forward to welcoming qualified Spirit workers.
American will be holding recruiting events in the coming weeks, although dates and other information was not provided yet.
This story was originally published May 4, 2026 at 10:09 AM.
