Spirit returning to DFW, plans service to two cities

July 22, 2011

Low-fare carrier Spirit Airlines is coming back to Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport. It plans to launch service to Fort Lauderdale and Las Vegas in May.

It's a welcome return for Fort Lauderdale-based Spirit in light of the imminent exit of D/FW's largest low-fare airline, AirTran Airways.

AirTran is leaving D/FW when Dallas-based Southwest Airlines Co. completes its acquisition of that carrier.

Spirit started service to Fort Lauderdale from D/FW in January 2006, but it left a year later.

In its return, Spirit will fly twice a day to Fort Lauderdale, where it has a hub that connects through dozens of Caribbean routes.

It will also fly twice a day to Las Vegas, with all the new flights starting May 5.

"We welcome the addition of new competition into the DFW market, and Spirit brings great service, competitive prices and tremendous value to our passengers," Jeff Fegan, chief executive of D/FW Airport, said in a news release Thursday.

With Virgin America recently announcing new service to D/FW from its San Francisco hub, the airport has had some success in bringing in low-fare competition to Fort Worth-based American Airlines Inc., which flies nearly nine of 10 passengers at D/FW.

D/FW estimates that the Spirit flights will add $120 million a year to the region's economy.

Spirit has been in the headlines for its plan to charge passengers a fee for carry-on luggage. Many carriers charge passengers for checked bags; Spirit was the first to introduce a fee for carry-on bags.