Mar. 23—For local travelers, it might be a budget option to the Big Apple.

Ultra low-cost Spirit Airlines will launch a daily flight between Pittsburgh and Newark Liberty International Airport on June 22.

It will be the second airline to fly into Newark from Pittsburgh International Airport. United Airlines currently flies to the New Jersey airport about 16 miles from Manhattan five to eight times a day, depending on the month.

Spirit will use a 182-seat Airbus A320 to make the year-round flight. It will depart Pittsburgh at 5:40 p.m. and arrive in Newark at 7:02 p.m. The return flight will leave Newark at 8 p.m. and touch down here at 9:18 p.m.

One-way fares for the flight start as low as $65, although checked luggage, seat assignment and carry-on bag cost extra.

By comparison, a roundtrip nonstop flight on United on June 22 could be booked for as low as $213.

Other competitors for New York City traffic from Pittsburgh International are American and Delta airlines, both of which fly to LaGuardia Airport and John F. Kennedy International Airport.

Erik Hofmeyer, a Spirit spokesman, believes the airline's business model and fares will be an attractive option for travelers to Newark.

"Historically, the fares on the Pittsburgh/ Newark route have been higher than average for how short of a flight it is between the two airports, so we believe many people decided to make the 300-mile drive rather than purchasing a flight," he said.

Since starting service at Pittsburgh International nearly five years ago, Spirit has risen to become the airport's fifth-largest carrier behind American, Southwest, Delta and United.

It carried 9.7% of all traffic last year and has hauled 10.6% of all passengers this year through February.

The airline flies year-round to Cancun, Fort Lauderdale, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, Orlando and Tampa, and seasonal to Myrtle Beach and Fort Myers, Fla.

Spirit also is adding nonstops to Newark from Los Angeles, Indianapolis and Oakland, Calif., this spring or summer.

Mark Belko: [email protected] or 412-263-1262.

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