Spirit’s 22 – Spirit Airlines’ 22 slot holdings at New York’s LaGuardia Airport will go to the highest bidder in an auction set for July 9, according to its estate in a bankruptcy court filing. If approved, the winner could add up to roughly 12 daily flights at the capacity
Just after midnight on May 2. Spirit Airlines shut down operations—but the impact at LaGuardia Airport is still rippling through the aviation market. Now. the airline’s 22 slots at New York’s LaGuardia are headed to an auction. with the estate asking a bankruptcy court to approve a sale that could immediately change who gets to fly in and out of one of the city’s most capacity-controlled airports.
The slots will be auctioned on July 9, according to Spirit’s estate, with the winner determined by the “highest and otherwise best” offer. Slots matter at airports like LaGuardia because they help decide how often airlines can operate there and sometimes which destinations they can serve.
In April, Spirit valued its LaGuardia slots at nearly $87 million. But even after the auction date, the outcome is still subject to bankruptcy court approval—before any winning airline can begin using slots that were abandoned when Spirit suspended business operations in the wee hours of May 2.
If the sale is approved. the holder of these slots could likely add as many as 12 more daily flights at LaGuardia. The math comes from the way slots are allocated: airlines generally need separate slots for takeoffs and landings. meaning 22 slots translate to roughly 12 daily flights. By the fall, LaGuardia’s schedule could look measurably different.
The last time this many slots at LaGuardia changed hands was in 2023, when the American Airlines and JetBlue Airways Northeast Alliance ended.
Who could bid—and why the pressure is on
In theory, all of Spirit’s competitors could be interested. Most have already signaled at least a willingness to consider acquiring assets from the estate.
James Dempsey, the CEO of Frontier Airlines, said earlier in May that his airline would “look at assets that come out during that wind down.” He also cautioned that Frontier would be “disciplined” with any investments.
Spirit’s slot disposal isn’t happening in a vacuum. The Denver-based discounter has already added flights in other former Spirit markets, including at Dallas Fort Worth International Airport (DFW), Detroit Metropolitan Airport (DTW), and Harry Reid International Airport (LAS) in Las Vegas.
American Airlines, too, has made it clear it is watching closely for openings. In April, Robert Isom, the CEO of American, said: “If there’s assets that become available in the marketplace, American has a long history of being aggressive,” adding that “we’re going to be on the forefront of that.”
Allegiant Air, Breeze Airways, Delta Air Lines, JetBlue, Southwest Airlines, and United Airlines have also added flights in former Spirit markets.
No airline executive has explicitly said they want Spirit’s LaGuardia slots. Still, many believe the leading contenders include American, Frontier, JetBlue, and Southwest.
Delta’s position comes with a different kind of risk. As the largest carrier at LaGuardia, Delta could face an antitrust challenge if it attempted to buy the slots.
United is striking a more cautious tone. United CEO Scott Kirby said on Wednesday that he does not expect the airline to “participate in any consolidation for anytime I can see for the foreseeable future.”
Porter’s “dark horse” angle
Canada’s Porter Airlines is viewed by some as a potential dark horse bidder. The opening of a U.S. Customs and Border Protection preclearance facility at its Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport (YTZ) base in March could let Porter shift its New York-area flights from Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR) to LaGuardia if it acquires the requisite slots. Porter is also a partner of American, the second-largest airline at LaGuardia.
In other words, this isn’t only a question of who wants more capacity—it’s who can turn it into a practical route plan.
Where Spirit flew—and what’s next for Terminal A
Spirit operated out of Terminal A at LaGuardia, also known as the Marine Air Terminal. That terminal is currently closed, pending the arrival of a new tenant.
Redevelopment plans for Terminal A are still moving forward, even after Spirit’s demise. A spokesperson for the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey—operators of LaGuardia—said: “We plan to move forward with preserving the landmarked Marine Air Terminal while dramatically upgrading the attached non-landmarked 1980s-era concourse and boarding area.”.
The Port Authority controls Terminal A and can reallocate its six gates as needed.
The pieces are now on the board: a July 9 auction. a bankruptcy court’s approval. and the possibility of up to roughly 12 additional daily flights landing at LaGuardia by fall. For travelers. this is the part where schedule politics becomes schedule reality—who wins slots. and who gets to expand at one of New York’s most restricted airports.
Spirit Airlines LaGuardia Airport slots LGA auction July 9 bankruptcy court approval New York airport Frontier Airlines American Airlines JetBlue Southwest Porter Airlines