Spirit Announces New Transcontinental Route Between Newark and Los Angeles

Ultra-low-cost carrier Spirit Airlines has announced that it will launch a new transcontinental route from Newark (EWR) to Los Angeles (LAX).

Tickets are already available to book for summer 2022 — let’s dive into the rest of the details of the carrier’s hottest new route.

Spirit Airlines Launches Its Longest Coast-to-Coast Flight

Spirit’s new transcontinental hop will launch on May 5, 2022, and run through September 6, 2022, with once-daily service.

The carrier has opted to avoid the dreaded eastbound red-eye by planning the flights with a friendlier schedule, shown below:

• Depart Newark (EWR) 5:25 p.m. — Arrive Los Angeles (LAX) 8:35 p.m.
• Depart Los Angeles (LAX) 8 a.m. — Arrive Newark (EWR) 4:25 p.m.

The flights will be operated by Spirit’s modern Airbus A320neo aircraft. These jets have 182 seats in total, 8 of them being the unique “Big Front Seat” that provides passengers with a comfort level similar to what you’d find on legacy carriers, but without the additional perks or price tag.

Hot Tip: Even though it’s an ultra-low-cost carrier, Spirit still offers a loyalty program. Check out our complete guide to the Free Spirit program for everything you need to know.

Transcontinental Competition

With over a dozen daily flights from Newark alone to Los Angeles, and over 40 daily connections from New York’s 3 major airports, Spirit could be taking a huge leap of faith if you consider the stiff competition that already exists in the market.

However, after checking several dates over the summer, it does appear that Spirit often sells the least expensive one-way fares on the route on any given day. And the airline has had plenty of success recently in attracting passengers who are looking for the least expensive fares possible.

If you do a little more searching, though, you’ll see that JetBlue sometimes offers one-way fares on the same route for just $99. Given the far superior service and amenities you’ll receive on a JetBlue flight, it may be tempting to spend marginally more money on a much more pleasant experience.

The new route will be Spirit’s fifth transcontinental route, joining its flights between Los Angeles (LAX) and Fort Lauderdale (FLL), New York (LGA), and Philadelphia (PHL), as well as between Philadelphia (PHL) and Oakland (OAK).

Final Thoughts

Spirit is launching a new seasonal service from Newark (EWR) to Los Angeles (LAX), and it’s great news for travelers who want to get from across the country for the lowest possible price — and with absolutely no frills.