Originally Posted by
Green Giant
Spirit Airlines is a Major Airline by definition. True we are what people would call a LCC; however Spirit is a Major Airline. Spirit is not a Legacy Airline but you don't need to be a Legacy to be a Major. Operating Revenue is the determining factor on how the DOT lists the airline.
"The United States Department of Transportation defines a major carrier or major airline carrier as a U.S.-based airline that posts more than $1 billion in revenue during a fiscal year.[1] The term "major carrier" or "major airline" can also refer to traditional legacy carriers, distinguishing them from startup and low-cost carriers."
Hawaiian and Alaska are legacies, legacy only refers to airlines that were in business prior to deregulation.
Of course, if it wasn't for bankruptcy restructuring of some of those legacies, they wouldn't be in business either.