As Spirit Steps Back, JetBlue Ramps Up Fort Lauderdale Push

JetBlue is setting its sights on Fort Lauderdale in 2026 as the carrier looks to increase its schedule in the city and its premium offerings.

The airline is planning to add 17 new routes out of Fort Lauderdale, where it will go toe-to-toe with Spirit Airlines, which has a large presence in the Florida city. JetBlue anticipates its schedule out of Fort Lauderdale will be up 35% in 2026.

JetBlue president Marty St. George said during a call with analysts on Tuesday that the carrier finally had an opportunity to expand in Fort Lauderdale — which has become an increasingly popular leisure destination in Florida — now that Spirit was paring down its network during its second round of Chapter 11 bankrup