JetBlue secures Spirit’s LaGuardia slots as airport capacity tightens

JetBlue Airways has won airport rights formerly held by Spirit Airlines at New York’s LaGuardia Airport, giving the carrier access to slots for as many as 12 round-trip flights at one of the most capacity-constrained airports in the United States. JetBlue said the transaction still requires final approval from the court and regulators, and told employees that any service expansion tied to the slots would not begin until 2027, according to a staff note reviewed by CNBC.

The move follows Spirit’s shutdown in May, which CNBC described as the largest U.S. airline failure in decades. The bankruptcy process has left Spirit’s airport assets, including rights at LaGuardia, moving through U.S. Bankruptcy Court in New York.

LaGuardia is a slot-controlled airport, meaning airlines need specific authorizations for takeoffs and landings during restricted periods. These slots are scarce because New York’s airspace is heavily used and airport infrastructure limits how much additional flying carriers can add.

For airlines, the value of a slot is tied to access. At airports such as LaGuardia, carriers cannot add flights solely by deploying more aircraft or crews if takeoff and landing permissions are unavailable. In some congested markets, airlines have used larger aircraft to carry more passengers on the flights they are already permitted to operate, according to CNBC.

JetBlue studies Marine Air Terminal move

JetBlue told employees Monday that it is assessing how the slots could fit into its route plans, according to the internal note reviewed by CNBC. The airline also said it wants to relocate its LaGuardia operation to Terminal A, the Marine Air Terminal, the Art Deco building used by Spirit before the airline ceased operations in early May.

JetBlue previously operated from the Marine Air Terminal before shifting to a newer facility at LaGuardia. In the employee note, JetBlue described the terminal as convenient and popular with travelers, according to CNBC.

The prospective move would mark a further reshuffling at LaGuardia after Spirit’s collapse. Airport gates and slots at large metropolitan airports are strategic assets for carriers because they shape network reach, customer access and competitive positioning in markets where physical expansion is difficult.

JetBlue is based in New York but has recently emphasized growth in Florida. CNBC reported that the airline is pursuing a major expansion at Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport. Last month, JetBlue said it would reduce its staffing footprint at LaGuardia and at Newark Liberty International Airport in New Jersey while increasing service in Fort Lauderdale, according to CNBC.

JetBlue did not immediately respond to CNBC’s request for comment. The timing and final shape of its LaGuardia plans remain subject to the approvals attached to the slot transaction and to decisions in the bankruptcy process involving Spirit’s former airport assets.

This story draws on original reporting from CNBC.