Spirit Airlines CEO: Squeezing Seats on Our Planes Pays Off
*By Carlo Versano*
When Spirit Airlines CEO Ted Christie flies, he flies his own ultra-low-cost carrier ーin coach. Such is the attitude at Spirit, where cost efficiencies are the very principle on which the airline does business.
Christie, who started in the role as Spirit Airlines ($SAVE) CEO this year, said that the business model is simple: its very low-cost structure drives low fares, which drive demand. Spirit, which is notorious for its no-frills cabin experience, even manages to pack more seats onto each aircraft, which helps the company diffuse fuel costs when they spike.
While Spirit takes its share of licks from passengers on social media, Christie said the airline's success has more to do with stimulating travel "off the bottom" ー reaching travelers who wouldn't otherwise fly, rather than frequent travelers looking to save a few bucks.
That is "untapped and unconstrained" demand, Christie said.
Even still, it's paying customers who demand some level of reliability, service, and comfort, even at the low price points. Spirit placed last in the 2018 American Customer Satisfaction Index of airlines.
"We're working hard on it," Christie said of the customer satisfaction metrics.
But value is its own satisfaction metric. Clean planes that are on-time, with friendly staff and bags that don't get lost ー for a $59 ticket ー is the value proposition Spirit wants its customers to consider.
The airline is adding some amenities to its flights: notably, high speed internet, which will cost between $6 and $10 per flight, Christie said, and be available across the fleet this year.
For full interview [click here](https://cheddar.com/videos/new-spirit-airlines-ceo-on-the-quest-for-high-value-low-fare-product-to-drive-loyalty).
With an increasing demand for mental health services, one person wanted to change the therapy game. In 2017, CEO Alex Katz founded Two Chairs, a company that uses technology to match patients with the right therapist.
Not only is April Financial Literacy Month, it’s also the kickoff of the spring homebuying season. So now is the time to make sure you have a financial plan in place – and why it might not be wise for that to include buying your first home.
While the U.S. may slowly be on the path to lowering inflation (and therefore interest rates), Europe has thoroughly trounced America, putting it on the path to lower rates by this summer.
April's release of the monthly Housing Starts and Building Permits reports by the Census Bureau provides crucial insights into the construction activity in the housing market. These reports are an economic indicator, shedding light on the current state of the housing market and its broader economic impact.
Caitlin Clark is heading to the Indiana Fever, the number one draft pick and the highest-scoring college basketball player of all time. And while she may not be getting millions from the WNBA, there's a few ways she'll net compensation for her generational talents.
Author of 'Clean Meat,' Paul Shapiro joins Cheddar to discuss how the cellular agricultural revolution helps lower rates of foodborne illness and greatly improves environmental sustainability. Plus, how his company The Better Meat Co. is bringing healthier food options to the table.
Recent headlines might make it sound like World War III is imminent, but when it comes to your finances, it's not the time to panic. The market is coming off its longest winning streak since 2011.
You may have noticed fewer new venture capital-backed startups (like Airbnb or Uber) lately. The market slowed to a crawl after 2021, but things are expected to take off again in 2025.
Corporate earnings season is underway, that time when companies share their billions in sales or double-digit profits. But the data shows even companies are struggling with high inflation and interest rates.
Boeing continues their terrifying trend of having their planes fall apart mid-flight, inflation — checks notes — is still up and the future of AI looks terrifying. Cheery!
