JetBlue is full-steam ahead on Fort Lauderdale, regardless of Spirit's fate

JetBlue Airways is moving forward with its flight plans at Fort Lauderdale–Hollywood International Airport, its president said, regardless of whether the airport's No. 1 carrier, Spirit Airlines, gets a government bailout. JetBlue, United Airlines , Frontier Airlines , Breeze Airways and others added flights last year at Fort Lauderdale, which is Spirit's home hub, as well as at other major airports where Spirit has a large presence. Those moves came shortly after Spirit filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection for the second time in less than a year. As a possible liquidation looms, budget carrier Spirit is in talks with the Trump administration for a potential bailout that could include a $500 million loan that could also give the government an up to 90% stake, people familiar with the matter have said, requesting anonymity to talk about the deal before it's public. The airline's lenders are accessing a deal this week. Spirit has cut its capacity in recent years to save on costs. In February, it still had the most market share at Fort Lauderdale with nearly 25%, down from more than 28% a year earlier, while JetBlue's share grew to more than 20%, up from 18.5% a year earlier, according to the latest available statistics from the airport. "We have now added significant capacity" there, JetBlue's president, Marty St. George, said on an earnings call Tuesday. "We've doubled the size of our next biggest competitor. …