en.Wedoany.com Reported - JetBlue has quickly become the largest operator at Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport (FLL) following Spirit Airlines' collapse, with daily flights exceeding 130, and its CEO revealed the company had been secretly preparing for months.

JetBlue CEO Joanna Geraghty told Local10 News that the airline had begun preparing capacity and resources long before Spirit Airlines ran into trouble. Since Spirit suspended operations in May, JetBlue's operations have grown to approximately 130 daily flights, with expectations to reach 150 by the end of 2026. The airline is hiring new employees, including former Spirit Airlines crew members, and has pledged to maintain affordable fares departing from FLL, though it warned it may not fully replicate Spirit's pricing levels.

Geraghty said: "Fort Lauderdale is a tremendous opportunity for us. Like most of the public, we knew Spirit was struggling. They filed for bankruptcy twice, so we've been preparing for this day over the past few months. We want to keep fares affordable, but we also want to ensure we deliver a quality product."

JetBlue has replaced Spirit's bright yellow aircraft with a classic blue livery, adding value for FLL travelers through competitive base fares, free Wi-Fi, onboard snacks, seatback entertainment systems, and extra legroom. The airline is considering launching new routes from the airport and can offer up to 370 connecting options. Following Spirit's collapse, JetBlue effectively filled the capacity gap by rapidly redeploying aircraft and personnel, also introducing rescue fares and elite status matching to attract former Spirit passengers, and increasing terminal gate count to about 30. The airline plans to open a new Airbus A220 pilot base at FLL in 2027.

According to the Bureau of Transportation Statistics, Spirit Airlines accounted for about 25% of operations at FLL before its collapse, serving over 6.6 million passengers annually; during the same period, JetBlue held about 20% market share with 5.3 million passengers. Since then, according to CNBC, JetBlue has increased its operational market share to approximately 36%. The airline's growth from FLL has not slowed, with five new routes launching before year-end: Barranquilla on October 1, Cali on October 15, Indianapolis and Columbus on November 2, and Santiago on November 19.

These moves have quickly made JetBlue the largest operator at Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport following Spirit Airlines' collapse.