Frontier Airlines is targeting Spirit Airlines customers as Spirit’s financial situation becomes increasingly precarious, with warnings of potential collapse without additional funding. Frontier plans to launch 20 new routes this winter, focusing on major Spirit markets like Fort Lauderdale International Airport. Frontier CEO Barry Biffle expressed interest in acquiring Spirit’s market share if the airline were to collapse. Spirit, which recently emerged from bankruptcy, faces challenges from larger competitors like United, American, and Delta. Stock prices of rival airlines surged after Spirit’s warning of financial instability. Both Spirit and Frontier have been impacted by changing customer preferences, oversupply of domestic capacity, and rising costs. Spirit has been making efforts to reduce costs by furloughing pilots and cutting unprofitable routes. Despite challenges, Spirit CEO Dave Davis remains optimistic about the airline’s future. Bondholders have agreed to convert debt to equity in Spirit’s Chapter 11 bankruptcy, but the airline has not yet renegotiated aircraft leases. Leasing firms have been exploring options to transfer Airbus planes from Spirit to competitors.

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