The slots at New York La Guardia formerly held by Spirit Airlines (Fort Lauderdale International) should be allocated to a low-cost carrier or be retired, according to the head of the United States Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), Bryan Bedford.

“As long as the slots are going to a low-fare airline and for the public good, the FAA and DOT would support that,” Bedford told reporters in Charleston, South Carolina, as quoted by Bloomberg.

If that is not an option, he said he believed the slots should be retired “and just get rid of the congestion.” As of summer 2025, Spirit Airlines held 22 slots at La Guardia, the third fewest, above Frontier Airlines (ten slots) and Porter Airlines (six), according to FAA data.

Spirit Airlines ceased operations on May 2, 2026. Slots at LaGuardia were valued at nearly USD87 million in an April court filing, said Bloomberg.