Spirit Airlines Adding New Nonstops
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As a subscriber you can listen to articles at work, in the car, or while you work out. Subscribe NowSpirit Airlines launched Thursday its inaugural nonstop air service at the Indianapolis International Airport and announced more are coming. The Florida-based airline says it will add two new nonstop routes, to Tampa and Fort Myers, Florida, this fall. John Kirby, vice president of network planning for Spirit Airlines, says the additions are the result of the strength of the Indianapolis market.
The new routes, which will begin November 14, will be daily as well. In an interview with Inside INdiana Business Reporter Mary-Rachel Redman, Kirby said Indianapolis has always been a metropolitan area that has embraced new competition.
"Indianapolis is a growing metro area," said Kirby. "It’s been very nice to low-cost carriers. We think that Indianapolis people like to travel, they like to get out of town, they like to go on vacation and we think our model fits that."
The airline first announced in December it was coming to the Indy airport. The announcement of the new routes comes as the daily nonstop service to Orlando and Las Vegas began. Spirit Airlines will also begin seasonal nonstop flights between Indy and Myrtle Beach, South Carolina in May.
Mario Rodriguez, executive director of the Indianapolis Airport Authority, says adding new flights sends a clear message about the value Spirit sees in Indianapolis.
"Spirit is giving Indy travelers more nonstop flights to the places they love most, and connectivity to international destinations in Latin America and the Caribbean," Rodriguez said in a news release. "That’s a statement we’re taking full note of as we welcome Spirit Airlines to the city."
Kirby says the IAA is a tremendous supporter of carriers and the fact that the inaugural flights that took off Thursday are full is indicative of that support.