Here we go!! Spirit Airlines has announced service to Charlotte(CLT) starting June 20th. Routes include the following: EWR, BWI,MCO and FLL! Really solid add, was only a matter of time before NK made its way into the Queen City!

https://www.usatoday.com/story/travel/f ... 845754002/

Yep, this is a slam dunk. CLT has the highest fares of pretty much any major city and these markets should have enough traffic to support NK. I can see DFW, IAH, TPA, BOS and ORD being potential adds space permitting.

JetBlueCLT wrote:

Here we go!! Spirit Airlines has announced service to Charlotte(CLT) starting June 20th. Routes include the following: EWR, BWI,MCO and FLL! Really solid add, was only a matter of time before NK made its way into the Queen City!

https://www.usatoday.com/story/travel/f ... 845754002/

Didn't see the frequencies. Anyone know?

jbs2886 wrote:

JetBlueCLT wrote:

Here we go!! Spirit Airlines has announced service to Charlotte(CLT) starting June 20th. Routes include the following: EWR, BWI,MCO and FLL! Really solid add, was only a matter of time before NK made its way into the Queen City!

https://www.usatoday.com/story/travel/f ... 845754002/

Didn't see the frequencies. Anyone know?

http://ir.spirit.com/file/Index?KeyFile=396708998

All once daily

Nice to check this one off the list. I'm a bit surprised they went in with only 4 routes, but these seem to be selected to minimize the risk of retaliation from AA. All are hubs/focus cities for other airlines.

Looking at the top 50 or so markets, there are only a few left without NK:
SLC, BNA, STL, SMF, SAT, CVG, MKE, ABQ, OMA
At some point I wouldn't be surprised to see them at additional airports in already served metros like SJC, IAD, ONT.

msycajun wrote:

Nice to check this one off the list. I'm a bit surprised they went in with only 4 routes, but these seem to be selected to minimize the risk of retaliation from AA. All are hubs/focus cities for other airlines.

Looking at the top 50 or so markets, there are only a few left without NK:
SLC, BNA, STL, SMF, SAT, CVG, MKE, ABQ, OMA
At some point I wouldn't be surprised to see them at additional airports in already served metros like SJC, IAD, ONT.

Available gate space is likely an issue.

Wow, Looks good for CLT.

How many planes is Spirit getting this year?

Great job NK! Their 2019 expansion is blowing everyone out of the water unlike F9's dartboard approach in 2018. Hopefully the Queen City will show success with mid-market cities next on the expansion list. AA needs to have their head nailed down quite a bit there.

casinterest wrote:

Wow, Looks good for CLT.

How many planes is Spirit getting this year?

16 in 2019

East coast only. I wonder if they're dipping their toes in these markers before trying DTW, ORD, & DFW.

These days, NK is pretty much the only airline with cost necessary to enter these dominated fortress hubs. Good on them. But let's not kid ourselves, AA will aggressively price match NK on these routes. There is a reason ULCCs have avoided CLT up to this point. It's not a DTW situation where they already have a reputation.

Huge adds, should help with competition. Which gates will NK be operating out of?

good luck to them.

tphuang wrote:

But let's not kid ourselves, AA will aggressively price match NK on these routes.

In the "basic economy" fare only...the regular economy fares will still be sky-high.

I can see BOS, DFW being added and a LAS redeye for utilization. Fares on CLT-LAS are relatively high but the loads are relatively weak. Only averaging 252 PDEW in 2017 and the first half of 2018. Opportunity to stimulate traffic.

Fantastic news! We have been hearing about this for a long time.

msycajun wrote:

Nice to check this one off the list. I'm a bit surprised they went in with only 4 routes, but these seem to be selected to minimize the risk of retaliation from AA. All are hubs/focus cities for other airlines.

Looking at the top 50 or so markets, there are only a few left without NK:
SLC, BNA, STL, SMF, SAT, CVG, MKE, ABQ, OMA
At some point I wouldn't be surprised to see them at additional airports in already served metros like SJC, IAD, ONT.

oh there'll be plenty of "retaliation" alright. Just Basic Economy offerings on matching flights. Doubt they'll price below that to drive them off, but AA will do fine with price matching since they've been having to do that already at other airports (So have UA and DL).

Surprised they went with CLT instead of setting up shop at Concord, NC / JQF.

AA goes nuclear in 3...2...1...

This is great! Spirit was rated higher than American in recent customer service surveys! We need more competition in CLT and hopefully Spirit will do well and keep expanding!

msycajun wrote:

Nice to check this one off the list. I'm a bit surprised they went in with only 4 routes, but these seem to be selected to minimize the risk of retaliation from AA. All are hubs/focus cities for other airlines.

Looking at the top 50 or so markets, there are only a few left without NK:
SLC, BNA, STL, SMF, SAT, CVG, MKE, ABQ, OMA
At some point I wouldn't be surprised to see them at additional airports in already served metros like SJC, IAD, ONT.

BNA seems a near certainty soon. They tried SAT once and pulled it. But all of these seem likely at some point soon.

msycajun wrote:

Nice to check this one off the list. I'm a bit surprised they went in with only 4 routes, but these seem to be selected to minimize the risk of retaliation from AA. All are hubs/focus cities for other airlines.

Looking at the top 50 or so markets, there are only a few left without NK:
SLC, BNA, STL, SMF, SAT, CVG, MKE, ABQ, OMA
At some point I wouldn't be surprised to see them at additional airports in already served metros like SJC, IAD, ONT.

I would say every airport you've listed is a strong contender for service. I would say other possibilities include BKG, BOI, BTV, BZN, CHS, EYW*, JAC*, OKC, PSP, PWM, RNO, STS*, TUS and XNA.

*if they have anything that can get in and out of there with a viable payload, of course

usairways85 wrote:

I can see BOS, DFW being added and a LAS redeye for utilization. Fares on CLT-LAS are relatively high but the loads are relatively weak. Only averaging 252 PDEW in 2017 and the first half of 2018. Opportunity to stimulate traffic.

Exactly. AA has implemented BE far beyond where it competes with ULCCs. Of course AA doesn't have their cost structure. At some point it makes sense to let some of that business go and focus on profitable capacity.

With the gates the airport is planning to add, this seemed inevitable.

JetBlueCLT wrote:

was only a matter of time before NK made its way into the Queen City!

Now they need to come to the other Queen City!

YES! YES!!!!!

Please add more midsized markets!

One flight a day means nothing.

Very much needed here in CLT. Hopefully they'll expand and give AA a run for their money in certain markets in/out from here. Now though...CLT just needs to force AA to give up some gates.

mikejepp wrote:

Surprised they went with CLT instead of setting up shop at Concord, NC / JQF.

I said the same thing when I first saw the announcement. Thought for sure any ULCC that'd like to come here would establish service over there considering it's cheaper and more suited for them.

mikejepp wrote:

Surprised they went with CLT instead of setting up shop at Concord, NC / JQF.

USA has no real room for NK unless they somehow coordinated schedules with G4. Many times G4 is using both of the available gates. Not to mention how often they run out of parking space for passengers in the parking garage and have to shuttle them over from a gravel lot.

mikejepp wrote:

Surprised they went with CLT instead of setting up shop at Concord, NC / JQF.

NK can't eat AA's lunch at JQF (assuming your comment was serious. IMO, GSO would be ahead of JQF.)

NK should add Fayeteville, Wilmington and change their name to NC.

Good evening everybody,

Here is the daily schedule for NK:

Originator to EWR departs at 8AM

Flight from EWR arrives at 10:45AM
Then turns to BWI departing at 12:50PM

Flight from BWI arrives at 3:05PM
Then turns to MCO departing at 5:25PM

Flight from MCO arrives at 7:14PM
Then turns to FLL departing at 10:00PM

Terminator from FLL arrives at 10:59PM (then turning to EWR in the morning and repeat...)

I work on Concourse A and there will be some gate space issues. These flights heavily overlap with Frontier, jetBlue, and Southwest.

It'll be interesting to see how it plays out.

Wow... that is great utilization for a single frame testing a new focus city. EWR, BWI, and MCO ex-CLT daily, with a tag MCO/FLL!
To throw oil on a fire... contrast that with UA trying that ex-IAD. No can do.

CLTRampRat wrote:

Good evening everybody,

Here is the daily schedule for NK:

Originator to EWR departs at 8AM

Flight from EWR arrives at 10:45AM
Then turns to BWI departing at 12:50PM

Flight from BWI arrives at 3:05PM
Then turns to MCO departing at 5:25PM

Flight from MCO arrives at 7:14PM
Then turns to FLL departing at 10:00PM

Terminator from FLL arrives at 10:59PM (then turning to EWR in the morning and repeat...)

I work on Concourse A and there will be some gate space issues. These flights heavily overlap with Frontier, jetBlue, and Southwest.

It'll be interesting to see how it plays out.

Why are the turns so long? It is very unusual for a ULCC aircraft to sit for 2-3 hours between turns

usflyer msp wrote:

CLTRampRat wrote:

Good evening everybody,

Here is the daily schedule for NK:

Originator to EWR departs at 8AM

Flight from EWR arrives at 10:45AM
Then turns to BWI departing at 12:50PM

Flight from BWI arrives at 3:05PM
Then turns to MCO departing at 5:25PM

Flight from MCO arrives at 7:14PM
Then turns to FLL departing at 10:00PM

Terminator from FLL arrives at 10:59PM (then turning to EWR in the morning and repeat...)

I work on Concourse A and there will be some gate space issues. These flights heavily overlap with Frontier, jetBlue, and Southwest.

It'll be interesting to see how it plays out.

Why are the turns so long? It is very unusual for a ULCC aircraft to sit for 2-3 hours between turns

Thats what we are trying to figure out too. I checked a few days after the opening day but the times remain the same.
Perhaps Spirit hasn't ironed out the times yet?

I think it's because it's a new airport, and NK seems to be making it a focus city. As CLTrr said... there are gate space issues, which implies padding the sked.

Maybe DTW & ORD weren't added due to gate space?

flymco753 wrote:

Maybe DTW & ORD weren't added due to gate space?

Could be. But both DTW and ORD make sense. AA would probably go nuclear on ORD and keep NK out. DTW more likely.

WPvsMW wrote:

I think it's because it's a new airport, and NK seems to be making it a focus city. As CLTrr said... there are gate space issues, which implies padding the sked.

Here's a quick and oversimplified look at the A Con gates:

United A21-A23-A25-A27: No room at night and not enough time during the day, also no because no.

Southwest A24-A26: No room at night and not enough room in the day for NKs proposed long turns, it would work until it wouldn't.

Frontier A28: No room at night. Could work here and there but like with WN the long turns would hurt it (also F9 is frequently late).

jetBlue A22: There is room overnight, but would jetBlue give up a gate? Would mostly work during the day as well but again, long turns it gets iffy.

Air Canada/Contour A29: Again, it somewhat works but some of the longer turn times would make it iffy.

Spirit using A29 to RON a plane:
Frontier uses A28 for a RON which gets in just after their last turn to TTN.
Frontier uses A29 for their TTN flight so the MCO RON can come in and go straight to bed.
That flight typically either arrives or departs late/later. Spirit could use this gate for a RON sure, but 6 nights out of 7 they'll have to wait for Frontier to vacate it.


Just my $0.02.

(Also you'll never guess which part of the airport I work at hahaha.... it's going to be interesting)

Just to cover all my bases, I'm not mentioning Deltas A con gates in the old terminal because those are irrelevant to this conversation. Delta is very busy here. Also "Big Daddy D" isn't known for sharing.

And AA is getting the old gates in A when the remodeling is done.

Yep, then Delta will take the new gate when Phase II is all done and AA will take the rest of the gates.

CLT doesn't have non-gate ramp space to RON?

usairways85 wrote:

CLT doesn't have non-gate ramp space to RON?

We do. The bigger one is next to taxiway Echo, namely by E15-E16-E17. Those are mostly taken up by Delta and American. The other hardstand location is up against the fence at the construction site of Concourse A Phase II. United uses all of those spots. Southwest parks their aircraft on a makeshift spot on the corner of the fence line (sometimes just out in the non controlled taxiway). Spirit could potentially park theirs on the other side of Southwest and claim a patch of asphalt for their own.

CLTRampRat wrote:

Good evening everybody,

Here is the daily schedule for NK:

Originator to EWR departs at 8AM

Flight from EWR arrives at 10:45AM
Then turns to BWI departing at 12:50PM

Flight from BWI arrives at 3:05PM
Then turns to MCO departing at 5:25PM

Flight from MCO arrives at 7:14PM
Then turns to FLL departing at 10:00PM

Terminator from FLL arrives at 10:59PM (then turning to EWR in the morning and repeat...)

I work on Concourse A and there will be some gate space issues. These flights heavily overlap with Frontier, jetBlue, and Southwest.

It'll be interesting to see how it plays out.

Those seemed like odd times, so I checked the web site and the times I found are different. The AC starts at CLT in the AM

6AM-8AM departure CLT-EWR
845AM-1045 AM EWR-CLT
1130AM-1250PM CLT-BWI
140PM-305PM BWI-CLT
350PM-525PM CLT-MCO
542PM-714PM MCO-CLT
759PM-9:59PM CLT-FLL

FLL-CLT is 8:59PM-10:59PM so it is a different AC that overnights than began the day there.
The MCO turns seem fast, but that schedule would work otherwise.

usflyer msp wrote:

CLTRampRat wrote:

Good evening everybody,

Here is the daily schedule for NK:

Originator to EWR departs at 8AM

Flight from EWR arrives at 10:45AM
Then turns to BWI departing at 12:50PM

Flight from BWI arrives at 3:05PM
Then turns to MCO departing at 5:25PM

Flight from MCO arrives at 7:14PM
Then turns to FLL departing at 10:00PM

Terminator from FLL arrives at 10:59PM (then turning to EWR in the morning and repeat...)

I work on Concourse A and there will be some gate space issues. These flights heavily overlap with Frontier, jetBlue, and Southwest.

It'll be interesting to see how it plays out.

Why are the turns so long? It is very unusual for a ULCC aircraft to sit for 2-3 hours between turns

Management at Spirit wants that. Better customer service/on-time performance.

spinkid wrote:

CLTRampRat wrote:

Good evening everybody,

Here is the daily schedule for NK:

Originator to EWR departs at 8AM

Flight from EWR arrives at 10:45AM
Then turns to BWI departing at 12:50PM

Flight from BWI arrives at 3:05PM
Then turns to MCO departing at 5:25PM

Flight from MCO arrives at 7:14PM
Then turns to FLL departing at 10:00PM

Terminator from FLL arrives at 10:59PM (then turning to EWR in the morning and repeat...)

I work on Concourse A and there will be some gate space issues. These flights heavily overlap with Frontier, jetBlue, and Southwest.

It'll be interesting to see how it plays out.

Those seemed like odd times, so I checked the web site and the times I found are different. The AC starts at CLT in the AM

6AM-8AM departure CLT-EWR
845AM-1045 AM EWR-CLT
1130AM-1250PM CLT-BWI
140PM-305PM BWI-CLT
350PM-525PM CLT-MCO
542PM-714PM MCO-CLT
759PM-9:59PM CLT-FLL

FLL-CLT is 8:59PM-10:59PM so it is a different AC that overnights than began the day there.
The MCO turns seem fast, but that schedule would work otherwise.

Interesting! The times I got were from the app. Still doesn't solve the gate space issue.