Mirror Review
September 19, 2025
Frontier Airlines and Spirit Airlines have long operated on the ultra-low-cost carrier (ULCC) model. But their paths have contrasted recently.
Spirit is restructuring under Chapter 11 bankruptcy for the second time in a year. In contrast, Frontier Airlines’ Low-Cost Flights continue to attract travelers.
Furthermore, Frontier is also adding routes and defending the ULCC model.
“The ULCC model is alive and well,” Frontier Airlines CEO Barry Biffle said on Wednesday, countering claims that cheap flying no longer works in the U.S. market.
Yet, this raises an important question: What is Frontier doing differently?
1. Keeping Operating Costs the Lowest in the Industry
Frontier’s main advantage comes from its relentless control of operating costs.
- Single fleet strategy: Frontier flies only Airbus A320-family aircraft. This reduces training costs for pilots and crew, simplifies maintenance, and lowers spare part needs.
- High aircraft utilization: Frontier schedules planes to fly more hours each day with faster turnarounds, lowering the cost per seat.
- Unbundled pricing: The base ticket covers just the seat. Extras bags, seat selection, and food are sold separately, allowing Frontier to keep fares low while earning from ancillary revenue.
This combination results in a unit cost (CASM-ex fuel) of around 7.5¢, far below most legacy carriers.
2. A Modern, Fuel-Efficient Fleet as a Shield
Fuel prices are unpredictable, and for many airlines, they are the biggest expense. Frontier has insulated itself by flying one of the youngest fleets in the U.S.
- The airline has invested heavily in Airbus A320neo aircraft with Pratt & Whitney GTF engines.
- These planes burn less fuel and reduce carbon emissions, cutting costs and improving efficiency.
- According to Frontier, its fleet is about 43% more fuel-efficient than the U.S. average.
This advantage helps Frontier absorb fuel price shocks better than Spirit, which still operates older aircraft.
3. Disciplined Growth Over Market Saturation
Spirit’s bankruptcy highlighted how fast expansion without discipline can backfire. It added too much capacity in competitive markets, then struggled when demand shifted.
Frontier has taken a different approach:
- Route redeployment: Instead of chasing every market, it shifts aircraft to peak travel days and profitable routes.
- Opportunistic growth: Frontier has quickly filled gaps left by Spirit’s exit but has avoided flooding markets with excess supply.
- Profit focus: This strategy recently helped Frontier post a quarterly profit for the first time in four years.
The contrast shows that low fares alone don’t guarantee survival. Disciplined execution does.
The Debate on ULCC Viability
Not everyone agrees that the low-cost flights model works.
United Airlines CEO Scott Kirby recently argued that ULCCs “struggle to adapt” to today’s conditions, pointing to Spirit’s collapse as proof.
But Biffle disagreed, stressing that execution, not the model itself, is the deciding factor.
Frontier’s current strategy suggests that the ULCC model can survive if airlines combine strict cost discipline with smart network planning.
What It Means for Travelers
For fliers, Frontier Airlines’ low-cost flights will remain available, but travelers must know the trade-offs:
- Expect add-ons. Bags, seat choices, and snacks come with extra fees.
- Travel light to save. A personal item is free, but carry-ons and checked bags cost more.
- Book smart. Paying for extras online is cheaper than waiting until the airport.
The ULCC model keeps flights accessible for price-sensitive travelers, but the real cost depends on choices made during booking.
Looking Ahead: Can Frontier Keep the Edge?
The coming year will test Frontier’s model in three ways:
- Competition: Legacy carriers may add capacity on popular routes, putting pressure on fares.
- Costs: Rising airport fees and labor costs could eat into its low-cost advantage.
- Growth execution: Success depends on whether new routes taken from Spirit can achieve sustainable load factors.
Still, with its low cost per available seat mile (CASM), young fleet, aircraft leasing, and disciplined strategy, Frontier is better positioned than Spirit to prove the ULCC model can work in today’s US market.
Conclusion
The secret behind Frontier Airlines’ low-cost flights lies in three pillars: tight cost control, a fuel-efficient fleet, and disciplined route planning.
While Spirit Airlines’ bankruptcy highlights the risks of overexpansion, Frontier shows that when managed carefully, the ULCC model remains viable.
For travelers, that means cheap fares are not disappearing anytime soon, but the real winners will be those who know how to fly the ULCC way.
