2/7/22 - Frontier and Spirit Airlines Plan To Merge

Frontier and Spirit Airlines plans to merge and provide the most competitive low-fare airline.

(USA TODAY- Dawn Gilbertson) - Budget airlines Frontier Airlines and Spirit Airlines, rapidly growing airlines known for cheap fares and a pile of fees, plan to merge.

The airlines announced the deal on Monday, calling the combined airline the country's "most competitive ultra low-fare airline.'' 

The merged airline has not been named. It will have more than 1,000 daily flights to more than 145 destinations in the United States, Latin America and the Caribbean, with a fleet of nearly 300 planes.

In addition to their similar business models, the airlines share a history with Phoenix-based airline investor Indigo Partners. Indigo is a majority shareholder in Frontier and used to have a majority stake in Spirit.  

Indigo founder and managing partner Bill Franke, whose experience includes a stint as CEO of America West Airlines, will be chairman of the combined airline.