Contour Airlines and Spirit Airlines have announced a new partnership aimed at improving connectivity across the national air transportation system and increasing access to affordable travel options in underserved communities throughout the United States.

Contour, the second-largest carrier in the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Essential Air Service (EAS) program, currently provides service to 22 EAS cities across the continental U.S. Under this new partnership, the airline will continue operating under existing EAS contracts while supporting major connecting hubs served by interline partners American, United, and Alaska Airlines.

Spirit Airlines, known for its focus on low-cost travel, plans to complement Contour’s network by launching new services from select EAS markets to major leisure destinations. The partnership aims to boost passenger traffic by offering a combination of national connectivity and cost-effective travel options.

As part of the agreement, Contour will handle ground operations for Spirit at EAS locations and assist in promoting Spirit’s services through its established community relationships. This collaboration is expected to enhance the utilization of smaller regional airports and provide more flight options for travelers in those areas.

According to Contour President Ben Munson, the partnership offers a balanced solution for EAS communities by merging broader connectivity with affordable fares. Spirit Airlines’ Vice President of Network Planning, John Kirby, highlighted the opportunity to introduce low-cost options in markets that currently have limited service.

The initial routes to be served through this partnership are expected to be announced in the summer.

Analysis

When I first read the press release, I assumed this partnership was similar to the interline agreements Contour already has with major airlines like Alaska, American, United, and Delta. I’ve experienced the Contour-American partnership firsthand—and let’s just say, it leaves much to be desired. You can read about that experience here.

Contour also has a habit of taking control of tickets originally issued by the major airline, which can lead to confusion and complications. Here’s an example of what that can look like. To be fair, Contour and American did eventually make amends—Contour issued me a voucher, and American corrected the reservation.

That said, this new partnership with Spirit seems to be different, likely due to a mix of technical limitations and business considerations. What stands out is that Spirit is planning to serve smaller destinations directly, rather than using Contour as a feeder. While that may ultimately be a better approach, it’s still surprising.

It’s hard to see how Spirit plans to fill these flights—Contour itself sometimes struggles with load factors in certain markets. And unlike Contour, Spirit will be operating without a subsidy, which makes this an even riskier experiment. Still, I hope it works. More affordable service in smaller markets would be a welcome change.