Summary

  • Spirit Airlines is the most recovered airline since the pandemic, with a significant increase in frequencies.
  • Low-cost carriers like Spirit, IndiGo, and Ryanair have seen positive improvements, indicating a preference for the low-cost option among travelers.
  • US legacy carriers, on the other hand, have experienced a decrease in frequencies.


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Ultra-low-cost carrier (ULCC) Spirit Airlines is the world’s most recovered airline since the pandemic as of this month. The airline reportedly has nearly 26,000 frequencies scheduled in November, representing an increase of more than 35% compared to the same period pre-pandemic.

Around the globe, other ULCCs have also seen recovery improvements in addition to flag carriers, showcasing the growth in their respective countries. Surprisingly, no US legacy carriers topped the list of most recovered, instead recording a decrease in frequencies compared to November 2019.


Low-cost carriers recover nicely

Spirit has had a year of ups, significantly growing its route network with the addition of several new flights. On the contrary, there have been some setbacks that the airline has faced, most notably with the Pratt & Whitney engine issues, but also with the stalling of its proposed merger with JetBlue Airways.

A Spirit Airlines A319 landing at Fort Lauderdale/Hollywood International Airport, while another waits to take off.

Photo: Carlos Yudica | Shutterstock

Related: Spirit Airlines Reports $150 Million Loss Earlier This Year

Despite the hurdles, the airline has improved its frequencies since the pandemic, catching the eyes of analysts at OAG, an aviation analytics and data provider. Among the top twenty most-recovered airlines in the world, Spirit is number one, according to the latest statistics from OAG.

Airlines

November 2023 Frequency

Difference Compared To November 2019

Difference Compared To October 2023

Spirit Airlines

25,990

35.2%

-0.5%

IndiGo

59,450

29.5%

-2.4%

Air China

49,546

20.3%

-4.2%

Ryanair

64,954

13.3%

-31.1%

Southwest Airlines

125,056

11.3%

-4.2%

Turkish Airlines

39,020

5.0%

-13.1%

Japan Airlines

25,597

4.1%

-2.9%

Azul Airlines

24,859

4.0%

-5.0%

LATAM Airlines Group

43,959

0.4%

-0.5%

China Eastern Airlines

66,469

-0.3%

-8.0%

China Southern Airlines

65,952

-0.9%

-4.7%

JetBlue Airways

27,811

-8.2%

-0.6%

EasyJet

34,691

-11.0%

-34.0%

American Airlines

165,868

-12.3%

-4.0%

All Nippon Airways

26,350

-12.4%

-3.7%

Alaska Airlines

33,292

-12.8%

-2.5%

Delta Air Lines

132,779

-13.0%

-6.3%

United Airlines

122,003

-16.9%

-8.2%

Lufthansa

35,094

-17.2%

-12.0%

Air Canada

29,808

-29.9%

-5.9%

The data shows a trend among low-cost airlines and their improvement since the pandemic. India-based IndiGo, Ireland-based Ryanair, and US-based Southwest Airlines are among the top five, indicating that travelers have chosen the low-cost option in the market.

Read More: IndiGo Becomes First Airline In India To Schedule More Than 2,000 Flights Per Day

During the third quarter, India’s capacity has approached pre-pandemic levels, and IndiGo’s numbers accurately reflect the country’s continued advancement. China, however, has had a much slower recovery, but improvement is indicated with Air China and China Eastern’s performance among the top 10 most-recovered airlines.

Reducing frequencies

All three US legacy carriers saw a decrease in frequencies since November 2019. Air Canada rounds out the top 20, recovering the least with a frequency reduction of 30%.

Southwest Airlines aircraft parked at the D concourse gates at Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport.

Photo: Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport

Interestingly, all carriers have reduced their frequencies compared to last month. According to OAG, the decrease results from airlines traditionally taking time to conduct aircraft maintenance checks and giving crews more time to rest following the busy summer travel season.

Top 20 airlines by market size

Comparing the airlines by market size results in a difference in performance. By seats, the four largest airlines in the US performed at the top, according to OAG.

Airline

Seats (November 2023)

Seats (November 2019)

American Airlines

165,868

189,160

Delta Air Lines

132,779

152,676

Southwest Airlines

125,056

112,340

United Airlines

122,003

146,842

China Eastern Airlines

66,469

66,636

China Southern Airlines

65,952

66,546

Ryanair

64,954

57,328

IndiGo

59,450

45,900

Air China

49,546

41,193

LATAM Airlines Group

43,959

43,791

Turkish Airlines

39,020

37,176

Lufthansa

35,094

42,405

EasyJet

34,691

38,988

Alaska Airlines

33,292

38,159

Air Canada

29,808

42,515

JetBlue Airways

27,811

30,299

All Nippon Airways

26,350

30,092

Spirit Airlines

25,990

19,217

Japan Airlines

25,597

24,592

Azul Airlines

24,859

28,892

Although Spirit does not carry the most passengers, nearly 140,000 less than American, the carrier still improved by market size, adding about 6,800 seats since November 2019.

Source: OAG

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