Spirit Airlines will partner with regional operator Contour Airlines to provide air service to small markets.
Under an arrangement announced Monday, Spirit will introduce service in an unspecified number of small cities, connecting them to major leisure markets. The airlines did not announce a launch date for the partnership but said the initial markets will be announced this summer.
Contour currently operates federally subsidized Essential Air Service (EAS) routes from American and United hubs to 22 airports.
"Our new partnership with Contour gives us an exciting opportunity to grow our network and explore low-cost entry into new markets that currently have limited service," said John Kirby, Spirit's vice president of network planning.
Spirit emerged from Chapter 11 bankruptcy in March.
Contour operates EAS routes mostly in the South and the Mountain West, but also in the Midwest and Northeast. Examples of its EAS cities include Muscle Shoals, Ala.; Macon, Ga., Paducah, Ky: and Page, Ariz.