Despite recent reports of declining earnings, the US low-cost carrier (LCC) sector is experiencing significant growth in 2024, surpassing pre-pandemic flight levels.
This week’s analysis focuses on the four largest US LCCs: Southwest Airlines, Spirit Airlines, Frontier Airlines and Allegiant Air.
Southwest Airlines, the industry giant, has steadily recovered from its 2022 operational challenges.
While the carrier’s flight numbers remain slightly below 2019 levels, it has consistently operated more flights than in the pre-pandemic era.
Spirit Airlines has witnessed even more substantial growth, expanding its fleet and increasing flight operations by 25% compared to July 2019.
Frontier Airlines has also experienced impressive growth, with a fleet expansion of 50% since 2019 and a 25% increase in flight numbers in July 2024.
Allegiant Air, known for its aggressive post-pandemic recovery, reached pre-pandemic flight levels in early 2021.
While its growth has been more sporadic, the airline has expanded its fleet and continues to operate above 2019 levels in certain months.
These findings indicate a robust recovery for the US LCC sector, with these four carriers leading the charge.
As the aviation industry continues to rebound from the pandemic, the growth of low-cost airlines is a key indicator of overall travel demand.
