By 5 Towns Central Staff

NEW YORK, N.Y. (July 20, 2026) – JetBlue has secured Spirit Airlines’ valuable takeoff and landing slots at New York’s LaGuardia Airport and is exploring a return to the terminal Spirit occupied before shutting down earlier this year, according to CNBC.

In a memo to employees on Monday, JetBlue said it is reviewing how the newly acquired slots could fit into its broader network strategy. The airline indicated that any major expansion tied to the slots is unlikely before 2027.

JetBlue also said it is interested in moving back to Terminal A, where Spirit operated until ending service in May. JetBlue previously used the terminal and described it as a popular and convenient option for travelers.

The development comes just months after Spirit halted operations following its second bankruptcy filing in less than two years. The airline had reportedly sought a $500 million federal bailout but was unable to secure the funding.

The deal involves 12 roundtrip slot pairs at LaGuardia, though it still requires final approval from both the bankruptcy court and federal regulators. Because LaGuardia operates under strict capacity limits, the slots are considered highly valuable and would strengthen JetBlue’s position at one of the nation’s most constrained airports.

Spirit’s remaining assets are being managed through U.S. Bankruptcy Court in New York after the airline abruptly ceased operations, leaving many travelers with disrupted plans. The ultra-low-cost carrier, recognizable for its bright yellow Airbus fleet, had been facing mounting financial losses and was reportedly losing money on a significant portion of its operations.

During its 34 years in business, Spirit grew into the eighth-largest airline in the United States, employing more than 17,000 workers and operating hundreds of flights each day. Like other carriers, it also faced pressure from rising fuel costs linked to broader instability in global energy markets.

JetBlue has recently announced several cost-cutting measures of its own, including closing its flight attendant base in Newark and consolidating certain technology operations at Newark and LaGuardia, while continuing to expand service in Florida.