Denver-based Frontier Airlines and Florida’s Spirit Airlines plan to create “an aggressive ultra-low fare competitor”.
Frontier operates more than 110 short-haul aircraft and Spirit 175. A plan to add 350 aircraft will mean the combined carrier will rival budget brand leader Southwest Airlines in size.
If approved by regulators and shareholders, the merger will see Frontier take a controlling 51.5% stake in the new company, with claimed annual savings of $1 billion passed on to consumers.