The woes of Frontier and Spirit are comprehensive and renowned. There is no need to rehash all that here. One overall consequence is that their number of flights has fallen substantially year-over-year. This is, in part, to refocus on where they believe they have a better chance of winning. It’s the classic case of the paradoxical ‘shrinking to grow’.

Between January and April 2026, the pair have scheduled 120,380 flights. Compared to the same four months in 2025, 29,800 fewer services are available, a drop of a fifth. Spirit’s offering has reduced the most (-28%). Despite Frontier’s schedule only being available through April 13, four weeks earlier than this time a year ago, its decrease is not quite as dramatic (-20%).

Spirit Has Cut 22,300 Flights

The ultra-low-cost carrier’s schedule submission to Cirium Diio indicates that it plans a total of 57,214 services between January and April. They have fallen from 79,492 in the same four months of last year. In other words, 22,278 flights have been removed as part of its widespread downsizing. March is the worst affected month (-6,232).

Spirit plans to serve 74 airports in the examined period. Compared to the same period in 2025, these cities are no longer served: Albuquerque, Birmingham, Boise, Bucaramanga, Hartford, Milwaukee, Minneapolis, Oakland, Phoenix, Portland (OR), Rochester (NY), St. Louis, Sacramento, San Diego, San Jose (CA), Salt Lake City, and Seattle. The emphasis on the West is clear to see. It has added four cities to its network: Belize City, Grand Cayman, Key West, and Savannah.

It has scheduled just 215 routes, which is based on having a minimum of four departures in the first four months of this year. These comprise 168 domestic and 47 international links. Its network has shrunk by a third. A year ago, 320 routes were available, comprising 273 domestic and 47 international. International flights are up by 10%, but domestic services are down by nearly a third.

Frontier Has 7,500 Fewer Flights

While far less dramatic than Spirit’s decrease, fellow ultra-low-cost operator Frontier has 7,522 fewer flights between January and April. Caution is needed. Part of this is technical, as no services are currently scheduled past April 13. They will become available soon and, therefore, the overall reduction will fall. It’ll look far less bad. Nonetheless, it has scheduled fewer flights in January (-1%) and particularly March (-8%).

Some 439 routes are available with at least four departures, of which 384 are domestic and 55 are international. Its network has jumped from 364 routes between January and April last year. It is notable that its map has grown by over a fifth in such a short space of time. Its international markets, in particular, have grown strongly. It has added 72% more routes year-over-year, although they remain a small part of its overall operation.

It plans to serve 100 airports. Compared to January-April 2025, it now serves Boise, Corpus Christi, Spokane, Nassau, Providenciales, Richmond, San Pedro Sula, and Tulsa. However, it has ended flights to Barbados, Burlington, Houston Hobby, Palm Springs, Portland (ME), Port of Spain, St. Croix, St. Thomas, and Vail.

Breeze Has Grown By 40%

When all airlines serving the US are included, total flights are up by a modest 1% year-over-year. Many positive stories exist, including Alaska Airlines (+4%), United Airlines (+4%), Delta Air Lines (+3%), and American Airlines (+3%). Spirit and Frontier are far from being the only carriers to be smaller. For example, Avelo is now smaller too (-25%).

A special mention goes to Breeze Airways. The carrier’s services have grown by 40% in the past year. And this does not include the 12 routes that were revealed on January 28, all of which will be operational from May onward. But it does, of course, remain a small operator. It is now the 14th largest carrier serving the US, up one place. When seats for sale are considered, it is now 11th, up three places.