JetBlue wins Spirit slots at LaGuardia Airport, eyes move to Marine Air Terminal as airlines fight for space - CNBC

What the report says

CNBC reported that JetBlue Airways has secured Spirit Airlines’ former takeoff and landing rights at New York’s LaGuardia Airport for as many as 12 daily round trips, a potentially significant shift at one of the country’s most capacity-constrained airports. The slots are not yet final, with JetBlue saying they remain subject to court and regulatory approvals.

According to CNBC, the slots had belonged to Spirit, which stopped operating in May. Spirit’s airport assets are being handled through U.S. Bankruptcy Court in New York. CNBC described the development as part of a broader reshuffling after Spirit’s collapse, which left valuable airport access available at LaGuardia.

CNBC said JetBlue informed employees in a Monday note that it is reviewing how the slots could fit into its network plans, while cautioning that any added flying would not begin until 2027. The airline is also considering a move to Terminal A, the Marine Air Terminal, the Art Deco facility Spirit used before shutting down. JetBlue previously operated there before moving to a newer terminal.

The decision matters because slots and gates at LaGuardia are scarce, limiting how much airlines can expand in the New York market. CNBC noted that carriers at crowded airports often look for other ways to add capacity, including using larger aircraft. The report also comes as JetBlue has been adjusting its regional footprint, including reducing staffing at LaGuardia and Newark while expanding at Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport.