LONDON – US ultra-low cost carrier Spirit Airlines has outlined its plans to launch five new, nonstop routes from San Juan Luis Muñoz Marín International Airport (SJU).
The expansion adds convenient and affordable flights to Atlanta (ATL), Chicago (ORD), Dallas (DFW), Detroit (DTW) and Hartford (BDL). The service expansion will grow Spirit’s Puerto Rico service from 11 destinations to 16 by June 2023.
The latest network expansion comes as Spirit celebrates over 20 years of operations in Puerto Rico.
The carrier also announced it will increase flights between San Juan (SJU) and Orlando (MCO) to five flights daily and grow flights between San Juan and Baltimore (BWI), Fort Lauderdale (FLL) and Newark (EWR) to two flights daily.
“Spirit Airlines has served the Puerto Rican community for more than two decades, offering affordable fares to connect family and friends across the United States.”
“Puerto Rico is our number one destination in the Caribbean, with its rich history and culture, renowned beaches, tropical rainforest and the world’s brightest bioluminescent bay,” said John Kirby, Vice President of Network Planning at Spirit Airlines.
“We continue our San Juan growth with five new nonstop routes, reaffirming our commitment to the island and making it even easier travel more often.”
Operations since 2001
Spirit first landed on the island in 2001, with service to San Juan (SJU) and has grown its Puerto Rican route map to include Aguadilla (BQN) and Ponce (PSE).
The airline will offer 21 peak-day departures in San Juan by June 2023, making it the second-largest carrier by destinations, seats and available seat miles (ASM).
This adds to Spirit’s growth across the island, which represents more than 200 percent growth in the past four years.
The carrier’s commitment to Puerto Rico extends beyond high-value travel options and deep into the vibrant community.
The Spirit Charitable Foundation has supported multiple non-profits doing meaningful work on the island and has donated more than $100,000 in hurricane relief efforts.
Recent fleet moves
Spirit has continued an active fleet replacement and upgrade programme lately. Spirit took delivery of 10 new A320neo aircraft during the fourth quarter 2022.
The Company ended the last quarter of the year with 194 aircraft in its fleet, an increase of 33.8 percent since the end of fourth quarter 2019.
In January 2023, the Company then signed an agreement to sell off its fleet of 29 unencumbered A319ceo aircraft powered with V2500 engines to Gryphon Trading Company, LLC.
The anticipated transfers to Gryphon are planned to begin in the first quarter 2023, through the end of the third quarter 2024.
The company expects to remove 14 and 15 A319ceo aircraft from its operating fleet in 2023 and 2024, respectively. The other two A319ceo aircraft in the operating fleet are anticipated to be returned to the lessor upon lease expiration in 2025.
