| A low cost airline is a carrier that offers | | | | It is the second largest low-cost airline in |
| generally low fares in exchange for reducing | | | | the US, providing service to approximately |
| many of the traditionally offered passenger | | | | 100 destinations in the US, Canada, and |
| services, by no means compromising the | | | | Mexico. The main hubs are Phoenix, Arizona |
| security of the travelers. The general | | | | and Las Vegas, Nevada |
| characteristics of the low cost airlines are: | | | | |
| | | | FRONTIER AIRLINES |
| - flying to cheaper, less congested | | | | |
| secondary airports and flying early in the | | | | Based at Denver International Airport in |
| morning or late in the evening to take | | | | Denver, Colorado, the carrier operates |
| advantage of lower landing fees | | | | flights throughout the United States, Mexico, |
| | | | and Canada. It's major US destinations are |
| - short flights and fast turnaround times, | | | | west of the Mississippi River. |
| allowing maximum utilization of the aircraft | | | | |
| | | | JETBLUE AIRWAYS |
| - direct sales of tickets, especially over | | | | |
| the Internet, avoiding fees and commissions | | | | It's one of the major American low-cost |
| paid to travel agents and reservations | | | | airlines, serving destinations in the United |
| systems | | | | States flights to New York-JFK Airport, Long |
| | | | Beach, Oakland, Boston, Orlando, Ft |
| - eliminated in-flight catering and other | | | | Lauderdale, Washington-Dulles), along with |
| complimentary services, replaced by optional | | | | flights to the Caribbean, Bahamas, Bermuda, |
| paid-for in-flight food and beverages. | | | | and Mexico. |
| | | | |
| Since the early 1990's a number of these | | | | SOUTHWEST AIRLINES |
| airlines have sprung up all over North | | | | |
| America as an alternative to the major, | | | | America's largest low cost airline, having |
| long-established carriers. The most | | | | notably large operations at |
| successful low cost/charter airlines | | | | Baltimore-Washington International Airport, |
| operating in the United States and Canada | | | | flights to Chicago-MDW Airport, Houston's |
| are: | | | | Hobby Airport, Las Vegas' McCarran Airport, |
| | | | Sky Harbor Airport in Phoenix, Nashville, |
| ALLEGIANT Serving flights nationwide flying | | | | Oakland, and San Diego. |
| out from Las Vegas, running significant bases | | | | |
| at Orlando Sanford International Airport and | | | | SPIRIT AIRLINES |
| St. Petersburg-Clearwater International | | | | |
| Airport | | | | Serving flights nationwide, as well as |
| | | | destinations in the Caribbean, Bahamas, and |
| ATA AIRLINES | | | | Mexico. |
| | | | |
| A low cost airline based in Indianapolis, | | | | SUN COUNTRY AIRLINES |
| Indiana, operating scheduled passenger | | | | |
| flights throughout the US mainland and | | | | Uses Minneapolis-Saint Paul International |
| Hawaii, as well as commercial charter flights | | | | Airport as its main hub, and operates flights |
| around the world. | | | | to destinations in the United States, Mexico, |
| | | | and the Caribbean. |
| AIRTRAN AIRWAYS | | | | |
| | | | WESTJET |
| Based in Orlando, Florida, AirTran operates | | | | |
| over 700 daily flights throughout the eastern | | | | A Canadian low-cost carrier based in Calgary, |
| USA and the Midwest, including over 200 daily | | | | Alberta, that flies across most major cities |
| departures from Atlanta. | | | | in Canada and 11 cities in the United States. |
| | | | WestJet was rated the second-best low-cost |
| AMERICA WEST AIRLINES | | | | airline in North America. |
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