The CEO of Frontier returns to the criticism of the United CEO on Discount Airlines

Airlines Frontier CEO Barry Biffle shot his counterpart United Airlines Who said that the deep record model in the United States is dead.

“It’s cute,” Biffle told Skift Global Forum on Wednesday, a travel conference in New York. “If he is good in mathematics, he would understand that we have a problem (theft) in the United States.”

Biffle’s comments were a response to United CEO, Scott Kirby, who said last week at an air conference in Long Beach, California, that he thought that the biggest American discounter, Spirit Airlines would go bankrupt. Spirit in August entered his second bankruptcy in less than a year after having failed to find a solid financial base.

When Kirby was asked why he thought Spirit would close, he replied: “Because I am good at mathematics.”

Kirby added that if Biffle wants Frontier to be the largest of American reduction carriers, then he will be the “last man standing on a flowing ship”.

Biffle highlighted the lower unit costs of his airline – 7.50 cents per mile of available siege, excluding fuel, compared to the 12.36 cents of the United of United by Mile available in the second quarter – and declared that the budgetary carrier is aimed at customers who may not steal at all, as well as those who want a low -cost flight, but that make arrows on other things, like luxury hotels.

When asked Wednesday if Frontier relies on the additional capacity left on the table by United, Biffle replied: “It is like the CEO of Nordstrom saying” I allow customers to buy Walmart jeans “.” “”

Frontier and United, as well as other airlines such as JetBlue Airwayshave announced that they adding new flights to the main spiritual routes to win its customers while he is struggling.

Ultra-lobed airlines have experienced difficulties after leaping costs after the pandemic, an excess offer of national American flights that have lowered prices and competition from large airlines that offer basic economic tickets without frills and global networks for burning frequent flyer models.

“Customers care about the value, and they do not get value on one (ultra-show-CUUT) carrier,” Kirby told CNBC on Tuesday.

These low -budget airlines have long been based on the prices and rock costs for everything else, from the cabin luggage seats, a model of large network airlines copied with their basic economic tickets. Now Spirit, Frontier and others seek to offer more offers and high -end packages that include things for which they facilitated.

Frontier switched to a net loss of $ 70 million in the second quarter, but predicts growth in unit income in a single figure in the third, and “provide a solid profitability base in 2026.”

Correction: This story has been updated to correct the costs of the air unit.