JetBlue Buys Spirit—What That Means for Pittsburgh
PIT optimistic about acquisition that will create 5th-largest airline in U.S.
By Matt Neistein
Published July 28, 2022
Read Time: 3 mins
In a head-spinning 24 hours, the landscape of commercial aviation in the U.S. radically changed as JetBlue announced Thursday it would acquire Spirit Airlines shortly after Spirit shareholders rejected a merger with Frontier Airlines.
The move immediately prompted questions about what the future holds for the merged carrier, its competitors and the airports they serve.
If the acquisition passes federal muster, it would create the fifth-largest airline in the U.S.
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“Today’s news that JetBlue is acquiring Spirit represents an opportunity for Pittsburgh,” said Bryan Dietz, Senior Vice President of Air Service and Commercial Development at PIT.
“Each carrier has developed a strong franchise at PIT—including no overlapping routes—with a loyal passenger base to markets where Pittsburghers want to fly. We have strong relationships with both management teams and are excited to see what the future holds for the combined airline.