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