Examining airline competition beyond united airlines' dominance at Newark Liberty

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Examining airline competition beyond united airlines' dominance at Newark Liberty

Policy

Jake Hardiman Senior Editor | Simple Flying

By Sky Industry News

Jul 22, 2024

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.

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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.