North American Low Cost Airlines

A low cost airline is a carrier that offers generally lowMidwest, including over 200 daily departures from
fares in exchange for reducing many of theAtlanta.
traditionally offered passenger services, by no meansAMERICA WEST AIRLINES
compromising the security of the travelers. TheIt is the second largest low-cost airline in the US,
general characteristics of the low cost airlines are:providing service to approximately 100 destinations in
- flying to cheaper, less congested secondary airportsthe US, Canada, and Mexico. The main hubs are
and flying early in the morning or late in the eveningPhoenix, Arizona and Las Vegas, Nevada
to take advantage of lower landing feesFRONTIER AIRLINES
- short flights and fast turnaround times, allowingBased at Denver International Airport in Denver,
maximum utilization of the aircraftColorado, the carrier operates flights throughout the
- direct sales of tickets, especially over the Internet,United States, Mexico, and Canada. It's major US
avoiding fees and commissions paid to travel agentsdestinations are west of the Mississippi River.
and reservations systemsJETBLUE AIRWAYS
- eliminated in-flight catering and other complimentaryIt's one of the major American low-cost airlines,
services, replaced by optional paid-for in-flight foodserving destinations in the United States (New
and beverages.York-JFK, Long Beach, Oakland, Boston, Orlando, Ft
Since the early 1990's a number of these airlines haveLauderdale, Washington-Dulles), along with flights to
sprung up all over North America as an alternative tothe Caribbean, Bahamas, Bermuda, and Mexico.
the major, long-established carriers. The mostSOUTHWEST AIRLINES
successful low cost/charter airlines operating in theAmerica's largest low cost airline, having notably large
United States and Canada are:operations at Baltimore-Washington International
ALLEGIANT Serving flights nationwide flying out fromAirport, Chicago's Midway Airport, Houston's Hobby
Las Vegas, running significant bases at OrlandoAirport, Las Vegas' McCarran Airport, Sky Harbor
Sanford International Airport and St.Airport in Phoenix, Nashville, Oakland, and San Diego.
Petersburg-Clearwater International AirportSPIRIT AIRLINES
ATA AIRLINESServing flights nationwide, as well as destinations in
A low cost airline based in Indianapolis, Indiana,the Caribbean, Bahamas, and Mexico.
operating scheduled passenger flights throughout theSUN COUNTRY AIRLINES
US mainland and Hawaii, as well as commercial charterUses nearby Minneapolis-Saint Paul International
flights around the world.Airport as its main hub, and operates flights to
AIRTRAN AIRWAYSdestinations in the United States, Mexico, and the
Based in Orlando, Florida, AirTran operates over 700Caribbean.
daily flights throughout the eastern USA and the