Freebird Airlines is a charter airline based in the United States that operates both scheduled and charter passenger flights. Freebird was founded in 2007 and is headquartered in Las Vegas, Nevada. The airline operates a fleet of Airbus A320 family aircraft and focuses on providing affordable flights between secondary airports across the United States.
Freebird’s History
Freebird Airlines was founded in 2007 by two aviation entrepreneurs who saw an opportunity to offer low-cost flights between underserved city pairs in the United States. At the time, many major carriers were cutting capacity on shorter routes between secondary airports, leaving an opening for a niche carrier like Freebird to enter the market.
The airline was named “Freebird” as a reference to the Lynyrd Skynyrd song of the same name, with the goal of evoking a sense of freedom and flexibility. Freebird aimed to provide an affordable option for leisure and budget travelers looking to fly between small and mid-sized markets without connecting through major airline hubs.
Freebird began operations in 2008, initially offering flights between Los Angeles, Las Vegas, and San Francisco using wet-leased Boeing 737 aircraft. Over the next few years, the airline expanded to serve over 15 destinations across the Western and Midwestern United States. In 2013, Freebird took delivery of its first Airbus A320 aircraft, allowing for greater range and capacity on routes.
Today, Freebird Airlines operates over 75 daily scheduled flights between 24 cities in 21 states. The airline handles over 1 million passengers per year with a fleet of 25 Airbus A320 family aircraft. Freebird has developed a niche by connecting underserved city pairs like Memphis and Tulsa or Baltimore and Indianapolis that lack abundant nonstop options from major carriers.
Freebird’s Route Network
As of October 2023, Freebird Airlines flies to the following 24 cities across 21 states:
- Austin, TX
- Baltimore, MD
- Birmingham, AL
- Boise, ID
- Buffalo, NY
- Burbank, CA
- Chicago, IL
- Cleveland, OH
- Dallas, TX
- Des Moines, IA
- Detroit, MI
- Houston, TX
- Indianapolis, IN
- Jacksonville, FL
- Kansas City, MO
- Las Vegas, NV
- Los Angeles, CA
- Memphis, TN
- Miami, FL
- Minneapolis, MN
- Nashville, TN
- New Orleans, LA
- Oakland, CA
- Tulsa, OK
Some of Freebird’s most popular routes include Los Angeles to Las Vegas, Chicago to Dallas, and Baltimore to Indianapolis. The airline focuses on providing point-to-point flights rather than connecting service through hubs. This allows Freebird to keep costs low while linking underserved city pairs.
Freebird’s Fleet
The Freebird Airlines fleet consists of the following Airbus A320 family aircraft as of October 2023:
Aircraft | Number in Fleet |
---|---|
Airbus A319 | 8 |
Airbus A320 | 12 |
Airbus A321 | 5 |
Total | 25 |
The Airbus A320 family offers Freebird a consistent and flexible fleet for its route network. The A319s have 124 seats, the A320s have 150 seats, and the A321s have 190 seats. Using different variants gives Freebird the ability to match aircraft size to demand on each route.
The airline maintains a young fleet, with an average aircraft age under 5 years old as of 2023. Operating newer planes provides better fuel efficiency and reliability for the high number of takeoffs and landings required for Freebird’s short haul flights.
Freebird’s Onboard Experience
As a low-cost carrier, Freebird Airlines offers a streamlined onboard service in order to keep fares affordable. Flights have a baseline level of complimentary soft drinks, snacks, and entertainment options. There are also several ancillary purchase options:
- Seating: Customers can purchase upgrades to Select Seats with extra legroom or exit row seats.
- Baggage: Checked bags are available for a fee, starting at $30 for the first bag.
- Food: A selection of sandwiches, snacks, and alcoholic drinks are available for purchase.
- Entertainment: Movies, TV shows, and magazines are available on smartphone, tablet or laptop with paid WiFi access.
Freebird also offers reusable canvas tote bags and 2024 calendar posters for purchase inflight. Overall, the streamlined service allows tickets to stay affordable while giving customers options to customize their travel experience.
Why Fly Freebird Airlines?
For travelers looking for an inexpensive way to fly between smaller U.S. cities, Freebird offers some compelling advantages:
- Affordable airfare – Freebird focuses on keeping base fares low with a la carte pricing for amenities.
- Underserved city pairs – Flying Freebird provides nonstop flights between destinations overlooked by major carriers.
- Secondary airports – Many routes utilize smaller airports that are easier to access than congested hubs.
- Streamlined flying – No seat assignments, simple onboard food and beverage options.
- Newer aircraft – Freebird’s fleet has an average age under 5 years old.
The airline gives budget-conscious travelers inexpensive access to flights between mid-sized markets. The point-to-point flying model provides an affordable alternative to connecting itineraries through crowded hub airports.
Criticisms of Freebird
While Freebird offers cheap nonstop flights on underserved routes, there are some common criticisms of the airline:
- Limited legroom: With tight seating, long flights can be uncomfortable.
- Barebones service: For those wanting amenities, Freebird only offers additional purchase options.
- Unassigned seats: Families may not sit together unless paying for upgrades.
- Limited schedules: Typically just 1-2 flights per day, even on popular routes.
- Hidden fees: Carry-on bags, seat selection, onboard food/beverage all cost extra.
Still, leisure travelers willing to sacrifice some comfort and amenities can save substantially on airfare when flying Freebird. The airline provides an affordable way to fly point-to-point between cities otherwise lacking abundant nonstop flights.
Conclusion
In summary, Freebird Airlines is a U.S. low-cost carrier founded in 2007 that provides scheduled passenger service between 24 secondary markets across 21 states. Freebird operates a fleet of 25 Airbus A319/A320/A321 aircraft and focuses on linking underserved city pairs overlooked by major airlines. The airline offers cheap base fares and a la carte pricing for extras like checked bags, seat selection, food and drinks. While the streamlined service lacks amenities, Freebird gives budget travelers inexpensive nonstop flights between mid-sized markets.