United Airlines adds flights in case Spirit fails

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United Airlines will add two new routes and beef up schedules on more than 15 others in January.

All come in markets served by Spirit Airlines, and that's no coincidence.

United's move comes just a week after Spirit filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection for the second time in nine months. Spirit's abrupt return to bankruptcy, coupled with a previous warning that it could run out of cash, has ratcheted up concerns about the budget carrier's long-term prospects.

It's also led customers to wonder if booking on Spirit is risky, especially for flights months away amid the ultra-low-cost carrier's financial uncertainty.

Rival airlines are beginning to take stock of the situation, too.

First up was Frontier, which rolled out a 20-route expansion that largely targeted Spirit and ratcheted up competition between the nation's two largest budget carriers. It also left many industry observers wondering if Frontier, which failed in a previous merger bid for Spirit, was trying to push its rival over the brink with its new flights.

Now, United has become the second carrier to add flights in markets where it competes with Spirit, saying its extra flights could be welcome additions in a worst-case scenario.

"If Spirit suddenly goes out of business, it will be incredibly disruptive, so we're adding these flights to give their customers other options if they want or need them," Patrick Quayle, United's senior vice president of Global Network Planning and Alliances, said in a statement announcing the new routes.

Already, United will end up backfilling Spirit in at least two markets.

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United's two new routes announced on Thursday include nonstop service from Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR) to Columbia Metropolitan Airport (CAE) in South Carolina, and Chattanooga Metropolitan Airport (CHA) in Tennessee.

Spirit currently flies both of those routes, but it confirmed on Wednesday that it would end all service from Columbia and Chattanooga as part of broader cuts related to its bankruptcy restructuring.

United already had planned to add Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR) service to those two cities prior to news of Spirit's exit, a spokesperson for United said to TPG.

Additionally, United will add one daily flight to certain existing schedules from its hubs at EWR, George Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH), O'Hare International Airport (ORD), and Los Angeles International Airport (LAX). You can view a full list of the additions below.

United's new routes and expanded schedules will begin Jan. 6 and go on sale later Thursday.

Spirit Airlines responded to United's expansion on Thursday.

"We're focused on competing and running a great operation," Duncan Dee, the airline's senior vice president of corporate communications, said in a statement to TPG. "Suggesting anything else is wishful thinking on the part of a high-cost airline looking to eliminate a low-cost competitor so they can fulfill their ultimate goal of charging American travelers the highest fares possible."

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