Broward-based and the #1 airline in the U.S., says WalletHub.
Credit: Spirit Airlines
Relish the moment, Spirit Airlines. According to a new 2026 report from WalletHub, the Dania Beach-headquartered carrier has been named the best airline in the U.S., and it apparently didn’t get there on price alone.
Yes, the same airline that’s long been the punchline for budget travel critics just landed at the top of a data-driven national ranking.
Spirit earned the highest overall score (74.33), beating out Southwest Airlines, which came in second. The study went beyond airfare, evaluating reliability, safety, comfort, baggage handling and overall service across nine major carriers.
Perhaps most surprising to skeptics, Spirit also ranked as the most reliable airline in the country, posting the lowest rates of cancellations, delays, mishandled luggage and denied boardings. In an industry where consistency can make or break a trip, that stat carries weight. United Airlines followed as the second-most reliable.
Elsewhere, Frontier Airlines ranked highest for safety, while JetBlue Airways, Hawaiian Airlines, American Airlines and Southwest led in comfort thanks to perks like Wi-Fi and extra legroom. Alaska Airlines and Delta Air Lines rounded out that category.
For Broward locals, the headline hits even closer. Spirit’s headquarters in Dania Beach cements the region as a serious player in aviation — and now, officially, home to the country’s top-ranked airline, whether the internet likes it or not.
For more information, visit wallethub.com.
