After a two-year fight against ALS, the family of Ben Baldanza announced his passing at age 62.

 

Baldanza Leaves Legacy of Nearly 40 Years in the Aviation Industry

A graduate of both Syracuse and Princeton, Baldanza held positions at several airlines before ascending to leading Spirit Airlines, including American Airlines, Northwest Airlines, UPS, Continental Airlines, and US Airways. In 11 years with Spirit, he transitioned the airline from a little-known carrier to one of the nation’s first ultra-low-cost-carriers.

 

The airline became quickly known for their quirky advertising, ubiquitous yellow aircraft, and no-frills service aboard their flights. The incredibly low fares only paid for the seat – part of the airline’s business model under Baldanza was charging for everything, including assigned seats, carry-on luggage, checked bags, and even snacks and beverages in-flight.

 

Despite negative consumer sentiment, Baldanza was one of the most decorated CEOs in the aviation space for his pioneering of the ultra-low-cost-carrier model that was ultimately adopted by other airlines. He was honored with the Air Transport World Josef S. Murphy Award for his contributions to commercial aviation, honors from the Maxwell School of Syracuse University, and the 2024 Wright Brothers Memorial Trophy for his career achievements.

 

In retirement, Baldanza stayed busy by serving on several corporate boards, including that of JetBlue, and hosting the “Airlines Confidential” podcast he launched in 2019. Even though he was diagnosed with ALS in 2022, he continued to host his podcast ultimately with the help of an assistive device. His final appearance was the August 11 episode, where he announced that his dwindling energy needed to be spent with his family.

 

He is survived by his wife of 38 years, Marcia, and their son, Enzo, a brother, and two sisters.

 

Share your thoughts and condolences on the FlyerTalk forums.

 

Feature image courtesy: Spirit Airlines via X. 

Source: frugal travel guy