Caribbean welcomes Spirit Airlines service expansion

by Caribbean Net News

Thursday, August 11, 2005

SANTO DOMINGO, Dominican Republic: Fort Lauderdale-based Spirit Airlines, the leading low cost carrier to the Caribbean, is planning a further expansion of its operations to the region.

Barry Biffle, Chief Marketing Officer of Spirit Airlines, disclosed the plans ahead of this week's First International Conference on Environmental and Sustainable Development which takes place at Hotel Renaissance Jaragua Hotel and Casino in Santo Domingo, August 10-12.

Biffle, whose airline is providing support to the global nonprofit organization Counterpart International, co-producers of the Santo Domingo meeting, said Spirit is looking seriously at more markets in the region.

Spirit currently serves Cancun, San Juan, Santo Domingo and will start service to Montego Bay and Kingston, Jamaica in November. Just this week Spirit announced a further expansion this fall with non-stop service between Orlando and Montego Bay along with service from both Orlando and Tampa to Fort Lauderdale offering convenient connections to the Caribbean.

"Our vision is to be the leading low-cost carrier to the Caribbean and Latin America," he said, adding that the airline has a unique position in Fort Lauderdale with an opportunity to serve the local market and connecting passengers from cities such as Detroit, New York, Atlantic City, Washington D.C. and Chicago. "There is great demand for our low fare service to the region," he said, explaining that Spirit runs a highly efficient low cost operation while providing high quality service to its customers, including business class.

"Passenger demand for our service continues to be robust as evidenced by our load factor," explained Ben Baldanza, President and Chief Operating Officer of Spirit Airlines. "Looking into the late summer and fall, bookings continue to be strong. We look forward to growing our Caribbean service this November with more non-stops to Nassau, Cancun, and new service to both Montego Bay and Kingston, Jamaica."

"Spirit not only widens the aerial skyways enabling more people and development resources to flow to the region, it also shows Latin America and the Caribbean how the low cost carriers can also deliver higher quality and stronger commitment to the priorities of regional communities and their governments," said Lelei LeLaulu, president of Counterpart International. "We look forward to sharing our sustainable development experiences with them and embarking on some exciting partnerships that benefit Caribbean people in the future."

Founded in 1990, Fort Lauderdale-based Spirit Airlines is the largest privately-held airline in the U.S., bringing low fares and friendly service to 20 cities in the United States, Bahamas and the Caribbean with 125 daily flights.

In addition to comfortable Coach Class service, Spirit offers Spirit Plus, a low cost business class with complimentary cocktails and snacks and 2-by-2 leather seating with an extra 6 inches of legroom versus coach in the Airbus fleet.

Spirit is currently bringing in a new fleet of Airbus aircraft and plans to have completed its fleet renewal by early 2007. Spirit currently has six A319, five A321, and 22 MD-80 aircraft.

For more information, fares, schedules and reservations visit www.spiritair.com