Spirit Airlines Ends โService at San Jose Mineta International Airport
SAN JOSE, CA – Spirit Airlines has ceased operations at San Jose Mineta International Airportโ (SJC),โข leaving a gap in low-cost travel โoptionsโ for South Bay residents. The airline’s final โflight from San Jose occurred recently, markingโ the end of a nearlyโข year-long effort to โฃbring affordable air service โto the region.
The โdeparture raisesโฃ concerns about โคair travel โaffordability in silicon Valley, where a wide range of income levels exists. Spirit launched nonstop โflights to washington D.C. in 2023, responding toโฃ passenger โdemand, but its โexit is being viewed as a symptom of broader challenges within the airline industry. Last year, approximately 12 million passengers traveledโฃ through โคSJC,โฃ stillโ below the pre-pandemic โpeak of 15.6 million.
Dan Connolly, who served asโ chair of โthe San Jose Airport Commission โขduring Spirit’s arrival,โ emphasized the importance of budget airlines โfor the diverse economic landscape of the area. “It was exciting to bring a โlow cost airlineโค in as in this valley,we have a huge socioeconomic range,from โฃvery low income to โขextremely high income,” Connollyโ told San Josรฉ Spotlight. “I do think it’s critically โฃimportant that we โคhave choicesโ in air travel and affordability.” He expressedโค uncertainty about whether another carrierโข will fill the void left by Spirit.
While โacknowledging Spirit’s “nickel and โdime”โ practices during a personal flight, Connolly maintained that the South Bay deserves access to economical airfare. The โairport is now assessingโฃ potential options to restore low-cost service andโ mitigate the impactโ on travelers.
Contactโ Annalise โFreimarck at [email protected] โข or โคfollow @annalise_ellenโค on โX.