The Department of Transportation DOT said Wednesday that Spirit Airlines, which is in the middle of merger talks with JetBlue and Frontier, will expand service at Newark Liberty International Airport.
Spirit, the largest budget airline in the United States, will get 16 opportunities to land or take off at the New Jersey-based airport, beating JetBlue and Alaska, previously held by Southwest Airlines.
The DOT received applications from Spirit and JetBlue Airways for all 16 timings, and Alaska Airlines for four. Spirit would improve competition in the Newark market, which was affected by Southwest Airlines discontinuing service there, according to the DOT.
The carrier was most likely to provide the lowest fares to the most consumers, according to the department. The move comes amid concerns over the onslaught of airline disruptions that have impacted travelers. As part of the deal, the DOT says Spirit must report additional data on disruptions facing their airline customers and ability to provide them with accommodations. The department will be able to watch the airline's ability to deliver on its customer commitment, according to the department. The DOT said it will be able to better quantify the financial impact of operational disruptions on travelers.
The low-cost carrier is still in the midst of merger talks with Frontier and JetBlue AirwaysJetBlue Airways about their rival bids to acquire all the outstanding common stock of Spirit Airlines Inc.
Both covet Spirit because of its relatively young fleet of more than 170 planes and its roughly 3,000 pilots, and its relatively young fleet of more than 170 planes, are more valuable during a pilot shortage that could last most of the decade.
The outcome could determine how many choices travelers have for the lowest fares. That is particularly important for leisure customers, the group that Spirit targets.
Spirit had to delay its shareholder vote on a merger with Frontier until July 8.