I fully agree with your first point, I don't think AZA-LAS was a shot at AAY, perse, to send a message. I do think NK saw potential Benjamin's and wanted the route to work but the loads/yields didnt work as such, and now Spirit is Audi 5000, G (out of there in lay terms) between the two cities.

However your second point couldn't be more off. Spirit has pulled out of profitable routes of late, when the aircraft could be used more profitably elsewhere.

When you have leases on planes that are relatively expensive you must do two things: 1) fly the s$@& out of them (14 or so hours a day as NK does) and 2) fly them where they make the most possible money. That often means cutting the good routes to add potentially better routes (you hope)

On the other hand, when you own many of your own oldies but goodies like AAY does, any profit no matter how small is worth chasing because what else is the plane doing while basking for hours in the Nevada sun, getting a tan? May as well put that pig to work.

As a E-speedie Winger I don't think one method is better than the next, just 2 different ways of getting Buck, Marilou and their critters down to Disney for the long weekend, and getting some aviation fools and aviation investors some cash out of the deal.