The United States' low-cost airlines have been incorporating newer aircraft into their fleets as a strategy to remain cost-efficient and competitive. This focus on modern, fuel-efficient airplanes aims to enhance performance, reliability, and reduce airline operational costs. Among major budget carriers, Spirit Airlines, Frontier Airlines, and Breeze Airways lead in maintaining relatively young aircraft fleets.
Spirit Airlines operates the youngest fleet compared to its competitors, with its aircraft averaging 5.9 years. The airline's fleet of 213 jets exclusively comprises the Airbus A320 family. According to data from ch-aviation, the company has 160 active aircraft. Spirit's A321neo aircraft, with its first aircraft delivered in May 2023, showcase an average age of just 0.9 years.
Frontier Airlines also employs the Airbus A320 family but has a slightly older fleet with an average age of 6.3 years. Its fleet consists of 161 jets, with active aircraft totaling 151. Frontier's A321neo, the youngest among its fleet, was first acquired in September 2022.