And as mismanaged as it was it still made money
The question is how much can they make if they get everything together?
A lot of money. However, this is true for just about every carrier with United at the top of the pile.
You forgot to point out that absolute profits above a break-even line when not taking into account ratios and percentages in the last few years has been childishly easy for everyone flying this side of a RJ due to capacity discipline installed, especially by the big 4, because of fuel prices. Now that fuel is unraveling and market share is becoming relevant again (not to NK/F9 of course) and the easy profits will be harder and harder to come by as irrational capacity decisions are made yet again.
Again, I think anyone with half a brain will tell you that this is a step in the right direction financially for blue. However, the question remains to be seen if blue can go the distance and start walking there and find some sort of true niche in the market. Id almost argue half of this depends on what SWA does, their choices or lack there of actually could determine which way the pendulum swings.
Like I said in the other post we have made money without this but we were weak if this works you will be looking at a much stronger JetBlue who is moving much of its flying to FLL.
That could be a problem for other airlines.
Blue flying isnt moving flying to FLL, capacity is just being added there. Big difference.
Spirit is not competing with jet blue for passengers. Or anyone else for that matter, save Allegiant. There's room for both and I believe both will find success. As long as there are different financial classes of flyers, so to will there be a need for both types of airlines.
Not entirely true. We compete with every OA for passengers, its just that the % is not as large as other OAs vs. other OAs. Let me add the disclaimer that with every schedule change that F9 does we are competing more and more with them for exactly the same passenger.