Spirit Airlines' permanent grounding on May 2 marked the highest-profile airline casualty in decades. Budget carriers immediately moved to fill the void, with Breeze Airways agreeing to take over nearly all of Spirit's routes at Atlantic City International just hours after the collapse.

Atlantic City was particularly vulnerable, as Spirit represented 75% of the airport's passenger traffic. Similar situations are unfolding across smaller markets where Spirit maintained significant presence. At larger hubs like New York's LaGuardia, Spirit's valuable takeoff and landing slots became available for acquisition during bankruptcy proceedings.

The scramble for Spirit's assets reflects how airline bankruptcies create opportunities for competitors. Breeze, Allegiant, and other discount carriers are expanding their networks by acquiring routes and slots that would otherwise require years to develop organically.