Romulus — Frontier Airlines is positioning itself to expand at Detroit Metropolitan Airport following Spirit Airlines’ exit, as airlines adjust routes to absorb passengers displaced by the collapse of the low-cost carrier.

The Wayne County Airport Authority confirmed that the Denver-based Frontier has formally requested access to Spirit Airlines’ former terminal space at the Warren Evans Terminal, though officials declined to say how many gates the airline is seeking or the proposed lease terms.

“It would be premature to share any details about ongoing discussions or potential lease agreements with Frontier or any other airline,” Cortez Strickland, spokesperson for the airport authority, wrote in an email.

Frontier, meanwhile, said it has already begun increasing service from Detroit and expects additional growth beginning this summer.

In a statement, the carrier said it has restored nonstop service from Detroit to Fort Lauderdale and Las Vegas, routes it had previously operated before pausing them. The airline is evaluating additional changes across its network.

“Our Network Planning team is continuing to evaluate our overall route network to determine future route additions as well, and we anticipate increased capacity from DTW starting in July and through the winter,” Rob Harris, spokesman for Frontier, said in an email.

Frontier’s request comes as aviation experts say Spirit Airlines’ exit from Detroit Metro Airport will reshuffle demand among carriers already serving the market. Those airlines include Delta Air Lines, Frontier Airlines, American Airlines, United Airlines and Southwest Airlines. Travel agents also say airfares have been climbing, with fewer low-cost options and higher fuel costs contributing to costlier tickets for travelers.

“Spirit is gone, however, the market is still over there …” said Selim Ozyurek, assistant professor at Western Michigan University’s College of Aviation. “The other airlines are going to be taking advantage of the existing demand.”

The void created by Spirit Airlines

Spirit previously operated from six gates in the Evans Terminal at Detroit Metro Airport. The airport authority said all former Spirit routes are being served by other airlines operating at the airport. However, the loss leaves a gap in Detroit’s low-cost air travel market.

“The airline was a low-cost carrier with a DTW-based crew and a maintenance hangar onsite,” Strickland said. “While it may be difficult to identify an exact replacement with an identical operational model, all routes formerly operated by Spirit are currently being serviced by other carriers at DTW. Also, our Air Service Development team regularly researches opportunities to increase routes and attract new airlines to DTW.”

Frontier said maintaining a strong presence in Detroit is central to its low-fare strategy, and that competition from budget carriers helps keep air fares down.

“The presence of low-fare carriers in a market forces competition among airlines and reduces the cost of flying for consumers overall,” Harris said.

Travel agents say airfares are elevated compared to last year, driven by a mix of fewer low-cost options and higher fuel costs.

“It’s hard to say if it’s the absolute departure of Spirit, or if it’s a combination of the departure of Spirit and the fuel prices,” said Maggie Burnside, certified travel adviser with Fly Lansing Travel. “I would say it’s probably a good combo of both. They’re differently higher this year than they have been in previous years.”

Burnside said, for example, a Detroit to Cancun flight would have been in the $450-$550 range via Spirit, but a basic economy ticket with airlines like United or American is about $900, up from about $700-$800 on those carriers last year. Delta Air Lines fares are also higher.

“Delta is positioning themselves that way as the premier airline,” said Liz Andrews, certified travel consultant with Fly Lansing Travel. “Not that they don’t want that competition, but they want to give you more for your tickets than just throwing you on the plane.”

David Fishman, president of Cadillac Travel Group, said fares that were commonly in the $300-$400 range last summer are now often running between $600 and $800. He said airlines have reduced the number of flights on some routes to keep planes full and operations profitable.

“The traveling public needs to know that because of less flights, air fares will stay high, as well as obviously because of the fuel prices, and not replacing some of the flights as of yet for (Spirit) being out of the market,” he said.

Frank Holmes, CEO and CIO of U.S. Global Investors, said “the airplanes are still quite packed,” and that discount carriers like Frontier help support competition.

While Frontier is noted as one carrier seeking additional space, airport officials say they are also in discussions with other airlines within the Evans Terminal. They declined to identify them.

DETROIT (WXYZ) — More than 150,000 fans pack the Detroit Grand Prix each year, but it’s a team of 1,000-plus volunteers that keeps the three-day event running at top speed.

Among them is a father-daughter duo with a combined 18 years of service to the race — and a shared passion for showing Detroit at its best.

Watch Faraz Javed’s video report below:

Detroit Grand Prix father-daughter volunteers help make winner’s circle moments shine

Patrick Grace has been volunteering at the Grand Prix for 16 years. His daughter, Colleen Grace, is in her second year. Together, they manage pre- and post-race event ceremonies — everything from coordinating the national anthem to staging the winner’s circle.

“We get the big flags in the right place. We get the people who sing the national anthem. We get the trophies ready. We get the champagne ready,” Patrick Grace said.

“All the fun stuff,” Colleen Grace said.

That includes hauling the trophies to the podium, which is no small task.

“I guess they’re 50 pounds. They’re heavy. And there’s 16 of them for each race,” Patrick Grace said.

For Colleen Grace, the appeal of volunteering took some time to appreciate. Growing up, she heard her father rave about the event every year.

“My dad growing up, he would come home and tell my sister and I how great this was every year and we’d go OK, yeah, sure dad. But now as an adult, I see the allure and it’s been so much fun,” she said.

WXYZ

Colleen Grace served in the Navy for about 7 1/2 years, and the time apart made their reunion at the Grand Prix even more meaningful.

“I didn’t get to see her from like 18 to 25 (years old),” Patrick Grace said.

“Now that I moved back to Michigan, I get to hang out with him. Turns out, he’s cool,” Colleen Grace said.

When asked whether volunteering at the event made her father cooler, Colleen Grace didn’t hesitate.

“It’s certainly a contributing thing,” she said.

“It can’t hurt,” Patrick Grace said.

Related video: For the Detroit Grand Prix, two best friends turn race day into a 23-year tradition

For the Detroit Grand Prix, two best friends turn race day into a 23-year tradition

Colleen Grace’s military background has also started to shift the family dynamic — at least when it comes to sun protection. After noticing her 62-year-old father’s sunburned nose at the end of one race day, she’s taken a more hands-on approach.

“Well, I asked him 17 times if he has sunscreen,” Colleen Grace said.

“And I did have sunscreen. She did not ask me if I put it on,” her father said.

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“Last night, I’m looking at him and I go Dad, your nose is so red. Did you wear the sunscreen? And he said no,” Colleen Grace said.

She’s already planning ahead for next year.

“Dad, I’m the captain,” she said.

Related video: Detroit Grand Prix ‘Free Prix Day’ draws fans from across Michigan and beyond

Families flock downtown for Free Prix Day

Despite years at the event, neither of them had the chance to sit and watch the races as spectators. But Patrick Grace said that’s not really the point.

“It would be fun to be able to sit, sit and watch the race, but I get to see so many things that other people don’t see,” he said.

Both plan to return next year. For Patrick Grace, the motivation is simple.

“My legs hurt tomorrow, my back will hurt, you know, kind of I’m getting old, but I’ll do it every year I can,” Patrick Grace said.

WXYZ

Colleen Grace sees it as something deeper than a weekend commitment.

“I mean, this is our heritage. I mean, the tire marks, the sound, this is the best,” she said.

For Patrick Grace, it all comes back to Detroit.

“I just like to be part of showing off… what a wonderful thing. I want to put on the best event possible. I want people to say Detroit was cool,” he said.

The Detroit Grand Prix is expected to return next year on the weekend after Memorial Day. Volunteer registrations open Spring 2027.

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This story was reported on-air by a journalist and has been converted to this platform with the assistance of AI. Our editorial team verifies all reporting on all platforms for fairness and accuracy.

Angelette Green has sold newspapers in Detroit for many years. But lately the news she has shared has focused on one person, the late David Woods, who sold papers for Woods at an iconic location.

• The article pays tribute to David Woods, a beloved newspaper hawker who worked for Angelette Green and recently passed away.
• Friends and family remember David Woods as a giving, loyal, and dependable presence in the community.

In today’s world, where most Americans and people around the globe get their news from digital devices, Detroiter Angelette Green represents something much different.

And in the process, she’s providing living proof that old school printed newspapers still have a dedicated audience.

On most weekdays, often during odd hours, while working for an independent contractor, Green plays an important role in making printed newspapers — including the Detroit Free Press — available in the Detroit market by delivering papers to area gas stations and other businesses that sell the papers.

Then on Sundays, Green can be found outdoors across the Detroit area, at newsstands that primarily sell the Sunday Free Press, which each have “hawkers” (salespeople) that work for Green, who drives her team members to their locations in a van.

Green provides chairs for her hawkers at each newsstand, but says sitting is not exactly a recipe for success when it comes to selling Sunday newspapers.