JetBlue Airways has rolled out a support package for travelers left stranded by the sudden shutdown of Spirit Airlines on May 2.
The airline's initiative includes rescue fares for basic tickets and the addition of 11 new routes originating from Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport.
JetBlue is offering one-way fares at $99 to passengers who can provide a valid Spirit itinerary for the same route, with travel available until Wednesday, May 6.
Travelers interested in this offer should contact 1-800-JETBLUE with their confirmation number.
"With significant operations in Fort Lauderdale and San Juan, we are uniquely positioned to assist Spirit customers in reaching their destinations and ensuring that air travel remains affordable despite increased demand," stated Joanna Geraghty, JetBlue's CEO.
Beginning May 1, JetBlue also capped all Blue Basic fares at $299 for nonstop flights from Fort Lauderdale and Luis Muñoz Marín International Airport in San Juan, Puerto Rico, which Spirit operated in April.
This fare cap is applicable for purchases made until May 8, for travel between May 2 and May 8.
JetBlue Expands with 11 New Routes
To fill the gap left by Spirit, JetBlue announced the launch of nonstop services to 11 new cities from Fort Lauderdale: Barranquilla and Cali in Colombia; Baltimore, Charlotte, Columbus, and Indianapolis, among others.
Additionally, JetBlue will increase service frequencies to Nashville, Detroit, Houston, Chicago, and Ponce, Puerto Rico, starting July 9, 2026.
With this growth, JetBlue aims to conduct nearly 130 daily departures from Fort Lauderdale this summer, marking over a 75% increase compared to 2025 and the largest operation in the airline’s history at this airport.
"We're intensifying our commitment to Fort Lauderdale to ensure air service availability in this market," said Marty St. George, JetBlue’s president.
Loyalty Status Match for Spirit Members
For frequent flyers who earned benefits with Spirit, JetBlue has introduced a loyalty status match program.
Free Spirit Silver members can match to JetBlue's Mosaic 1 level, while Free Spirit Gold members can match to Mosaic 2, gaining perks like priority boarding and no change fees.
"We recognize that many Spirit customers feel the loss of loyalty they built over time. Our status match is designed to honor that commitment and provide them a seamless transition to JetBlue," St. George added.
Support for Spirit Employees
JetBlue has extended its technical seat usage agreement for two weeks to assist Spirit pilots and crew trying to return home, and announced interview opportunities for qualified Spirit team members, who lost 17,000 jobs overnight.
Spirit ceased all operations at 3:00 a.m. on May 2, immediately canceling all flights.
The airline had incurred losses exceeding $2.5 billion since 2020 and was a leading carrier in Fort Lauderdale with a 28% market share.
Thousands of passengers were left without flights or luggage at airports nationwide.
Experts warn that the absence of Spirit—which provided fares 30% to 50% lower than traditional airlines—could lead to an average fare increase of 23% on its former routes, highlighting the importance of JetBlue's announced price containment measures.
JetBlue's Response to Spirit Airlines Shutdown: Key Information
What support is JetBlue offering to Spirit Airlines passengers?
JetBlue is offering $99 rescue fares for passengers with valid Spirit itineraries, along with expanding routes and capping fares at $299 for some flights.
How is JetBlue helping former Spirit Airlines employees?
JetBlue has extended technical seat usage for Spirit staff trying to return home and is offering interview opportunities for qualified employees.
What impact did Spirit Airlines' closure have on the market?
The closure of Spirit Airlines is expected to cause a 23% increase in average fares on its former routes, as it previously offered significantly lower prices.