United Airlines Expands Flights in 15 Cities amid Spirit Airlines Bankruptcy

United Airlines and Spirit Airlines are engaged in a heated dispute following Spirit's second bankruptcy filing within a year, highlighting the struggles of ultra-low-cost carriers in the current market. United CEO Scott Kirby criticized Spirit's no-frills business model as a failed experiment, expressing doubt about Spirit's ability to continue operating due to poor customer satisfaction and financial instability. In response, Spirit defended its model and customer appeal, dismissing United's comments as wishful thinking while reaffirming its intent to remain in business. United has proactively added flights to 15 cities served by Spirit, aiming to provide alternative options for passengers in case Spirit abruptly ceases operations. Spirit has been cutting routes and shrinking its fleet to reduce costs, but its operating expenses remain higher than its revenues, contributing to its financial woes. Industry analysts attribute Spirit's challenges to an oversized and costly operational structure, while United seeks to capitalize on Spirit's difficulties to capture market share.