Quantcast

Examining airline competition beyond united airlines' dominance at Newark Liberty

Wizz Air becomes first airline to operate P&W-powered Airbus A321XLR jet
Hawaiian Airlines’ new ‘no show’ policy may make travel more expensive
BLIMP-SE OF THE FUTURE Luxury zeppelins of the future from ‘flying bum’ world’s largest aircraft to Google billionaire’s ‘impossible’ airship
Swiss Startup SmartFlyer Develops Hybrid-Electric Trainer
San Francisco-based entrepreneur takes a trip on India's worst-rated airline, his reaction will surprise you
First-Time Flyer at 81: A Grandmother's Memorable Journey
Global Airlines Launches Inaugural Flight, Aiming to Revive 'Golden Age of Travel'
Winning routes: American Airlines adds more than 22,000 seats for football fans following release of 2025–2026 pro schedule
Boeing scores Middle East plane deal during Trump visit
Air travel will be ‘worse’ this summer, lawmakers warn — as FAA gives infuriating update on system fixes, staffing issues
United Airlines CEO Reassures Passengers About Newark Airport Safety
American Testing Tech to Help Passengers Make Connecting Flights
British Airways to use AI in efforts to improve operations
American Airlines Tests New Tech to Help Passengers With Tight Connections During Summer Rush
Flight Diverted After Pregnant Woman on Board Goes into Labor and Delivers Her Baby: Report
United Airlines CEO Scott Kirby says "this is the most optimistic I've been in my entire career about finally getting the FAA fixed"
U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean P. Duffy Unveils Plan to Build Brand New, State-of-the-Art Air Traffic Control System
Passenger rushing for next flight can't believe what woman next to her does
Why fuel price crash won’t make flying cheaper
Kristi Noem says travelers without Real ID will still be able to fly after deadline
Frontier Airlines Announces New Routes Launching This Summer, Connecting Baltimore With Chicago O’Hare and Trenton, N.J. With Myrtle Beach, S.C.
Airlines in North America prioritize investments in cyber, AI
The evolution of the airline uniform — a cross check
Global Airlines & HiFly Operate 1st Passenger Airbus A380 Flight Between Barcelona And Berlin
American Airlines unveils ritzy new plane suites launching this summer
Airline Stocks To Keep An Eye On - April 28th
Gatwick Airport Faces Potential Strikes
50 New Routes Starting In May 2025
Report: JetBlue, United Mulling Partnership
New First-Class Suites, Futuristic Aircraft and the Top Air Travel News From April 2025
Examining airline competition beyond united airlines' dominance at Newark Liberty
Policy
Webp mj5giaxbuhdg87inkyw111tm01w7
Jake Hardiman Senior Editor | Simple Flying

Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR) is a major US airport, the second-largest in the New York City area after JFK. United Airlines dominates EWR, but competitors like American, Delta, and Spirit Airlines have a significant presence. Spirit Airlines is the second-largest airline at EWR, offering an extensive ULCC network, including unique transcontinental routes.

Nestled about 14 miles away from Manhattan, Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR) is a major component of air travel to and from the New York City metropolitan area. It is the second-largest airport serving the most populous city in the US, after John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) and before LaGuardia Airport (LGA). While EWR is known to be dominated by Chicago-based United Airlines, other major airlines still operate at the airport. However, United’s network from the airport is so extensive that the carrier does not need to operate at JFK.

Contrastingly, United’s main competitors, American Airlines and Delta Air Lines, operate at all three New York City area airports. Both carriers operate hubs at JFK and LGA but offer appropriate competition to United at its home in New Jersey. While some may believe that American and Delta share the leading traffic numbers behind United at EWR, the two carriers actually trail behind a popular ultra-low-cost carrier (ULCC). Additionally, EWR sees a handful of capacity from international carriers primarily serving Canadian and European markets.

Get the Newsletter
Sign-up to receive weekly round up of news from Sky Industry News
By submitting, you agree to our Privacy Policy and Terms of Service. By providing your phone number you are opting in and consenting to receive recurring SMS/MMS messages, including automated texts, to that number from our short code. Msg & data rates may apply. Reply HELP for help, STOP to end. SMS opt-in will not be sold, rented, or shared.

Opening in 1928, EWR became home to the oldest airfield and the first commercial airline terminal in the US. The airport was a major hub for Continental Airlines until it merged into United Airlines in 2010. For more than two decades, United has utilized EWR as a global gateway, offering the most flights to destinations from the New York City/Newark region.

United operates approximately 440 daily flights out of EWR – 237 mainline and 203 regional – handling an average of 40,000 passengers per day and 14.6 million passengers annually.

However, competition remains crucial within the industry. In recent years, Spirit Airlines has increased its presence at EWR alongside JetBlue Airways. According to aviation data firm Cirium, Spirit has become notable with significant flight numbers despite trailing behind United.

Spirit's expanded operations include over 20 destinations such as Fort Lauderdale–Hollywood International Airport (FLL), Hartsfield–Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL), Harry Reid International Airport (LAS), Los Angeles International Airport (LAX), Boston Logan International Airport (BOS), and Austin–Bergstrom International Airport (AUS).

With its EWR-LAX service being unique among ULCCs on this route despite only one daily flight without premium options available on Airbus A320 or A320neo aircrafts.

"Encouraged": Spirit Airlines Has No Plans To File For Bankruptcy After Failed JetBlue Merger

Spirit will make changes to its operations soon by ending services to San Juan's Luis Muñoz Marín International Airport this month followed by Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport & San Francisco Bay Oakland Intl next September while adding new routes towards Chicago O’Hare & Kansas City instead this month too.

Delta offers over eighteen thousand flights annually providing around two-point-two million seats flying mainly between five out of nine hubs along with regional brand Delta Connection operating several additional routes.

American slightly edges out JetBlue regarding total flights count although JetBlue surpasses them via ASMs thanks largely due wider route networks covering various Caribbean cities plus aforementioned LAX service contributing higher ASM figures.

Internationally speaking; Air Canada leads market presence boasting ten thousand seven hundred-plus flights ahead low-cost Porter albeit latter having higher counts than Alaska whose overall ASMs remain significantly larger given broader destination range coverage comparatively speaking.

Organizations Included in this History
More News

Delta Air Lines is expanding its flight offerings for the 2025 pro football season, introducing new routes and increasing capacity to accommodate fans traveling to major games.

Jun 6, 2025

Last month, over 130 volunteers from Delta Air Lines and several partner organizations collaborated to construct a new playground in College Park, Georgia.

Jun 6, 2025

Walking together on Omaha Beach, 19-year-old college student Caleb Walker and 101-year-old WWII veteran Jack Myers reflected on the sacrifices made during the D-Day invasion.

Jun 6, 2025

British Airways is the leading foreign long-haul airline serving the United States.

Jun 5, 2025

United Airlines has completed a deal with the Chicago Department of Aviation to acquire five additional gates at Chicago O'Hare International Airport.

Jun 5, 2025

Boeing has reached a production milestone, achieving a monthly output of 38 737 MAX aircraft for the first time since 2020.

Jun 5, 2025