Frontier Airlines targets three Spirit Airlines’ routes in Orlando
Spirit Airlines has scheduled daily flights on three out of four Frontier Airlines' new routes from Orlando International Airport (MCO).
Frontier Airlines has unveiled 22 new routes, expanding services from several airports across the United States, including Orlando International Airport (MCO). Data showed that out of the four new routes from MCO, three are currently flown by Spirit Airlines.
On September 4, 2025, Frontier Airlines announced 22 new routes across its network, targeting growth across the United States, the Caribbean, and Latin America. Some of the new routes originate from major fortress hubs for other airlines, including Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL), Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport (DFW), and Miami International Airport (MIA).
Four of its new routes originate at MCO, with the quartet of new international connections starting in December 2025. Frontier Airlines plans weekly flights from MCO to El Salvador International Airport (SAL), San Pedro Sula La Mesa International Airport (SAP), and San Jose Juan Santamaría International Airport (SJO), and twice weekly departures to Guatemala City La Aurora International Airport (GUA). All four are pending governmental approval, Frontier Airlines warned.
According to Cirium’s Diio Mi, Spirit Airlines has currently planned to fly from MCO to GUA, SAP, and SJO in December, serving the three itineraries daily. JetBlue, Volaris, and Southwest Airlines also have daily flights between MCO and SJO, while avianca has four weekly departures from MCO to SAL.
The latest Department of Transportation (DOT) data, compiled by Cirium’s Diio Mi, showed that Spirit Airlines’ flights from MCO to GUA, SAP, and SJO averaged load factors of 67.3%, 72.1%, and 77.9% in May 2025, respectively, while in December 2024, these were 84.7%, 79.3%, and 89%.
Spirit Airlines’ last flight from MCO to SAL was on August 8, 2023, when its average load factors on the route, flown three times per week before the airline removed it from its network, were 80.9%, according to Cirium’s Diio Mi.
Rytis
Currently, Spirit Airlines is undergoing its second Chapter 11 bankruptcy case in less than a year. The airline entered the court-protected restructuring process on August 29, 2025, detailing that one of its goals during the Chapter 11 bankruptcy is to redesign its network.
“Spirit will focus its flying on key markets to provide more destinations, frequencies, and enhanced connectivity in its focus cities. The Company will also reduce its presence in certain markets.”
Frontier Airlines said that its newest routes were part of its strategy of being the leading low-cost carrier in the top 20 US metro areas. “With even more fleet and route expansion on tap for next year, along with major investments in loyalty and product upgrades, Frontier is proving it is America’s Low Fare Airline, delivering the best value in air travel,” it said.
The carrier’s other new routes are displayed in the map below:
During Spirit Airlines’ previous Chapter 11 bankruptcy case, court documents unveiled that Frontier Airlines approached the airline for a potential merger. However, the latter’s executives warned that it would not be interested in a post-Chapter 11 merger due to Spirit Airlines emerging as highly leveraged and too weak to fend off competition.
Spirit Airlines rejected two Frontier Airlines’ merger proposals, saying that they were insufficient financially, especially when compared to “the economic agreement we reached last Summer and Fall from which Frontier unilaterally walked away.”
Before Spirit Airlines entered the second restructuring process, executives from both airlines met to discuss matters, but not a potential acquisition, according to a report by Bloomberg, citing people familiar with the matter.
