Spirit Airlines
Encyclopedia
Spirit Airlines is a United States
ultra low-cost carrier
operating scheduled flights throughout the Americas. The airline is headquartered in Miramar, Florida
, in the Miami metropolitan area. Spirit currently maintains a base
in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. Over half of the airline's flights are to destinations in the Bahamas, Caribbean
, and Latin America
.
, as Charter One, a Detroit-based charter tour operator providing travel packages to entertainment destinations such as Atlantic City, Las Vegas and the Bahamas. In 1990, Charter One began scheduled service from Boston and Providence, R.I., to Atlantic City. On May 29, 1992, Charter One brought jet equipment into the fleet, changed its name to Spirit Airlines and inaugurated service from Detroit to Atlantic City.
In April 1993, Spirit Airlines began scheduled service to destinations in Florida. During the next five years, Spirit expanded rapidly, increasing service from Detroit and adding service in new markets such as Myrtle Beach, S.C.; Los Angeles and New York.
Spirit relocated its headquarters in November 1999, moving from Eastpointe, Michigan
, to Miramar, Florida
. Prior to the decision to move the headquarters to Miramar, Spirit considered Atlantic City, New Jersey
and Detroit, Michigan
. Expansion continued with the addition of the Chicago market as well as coast-to-coast service to Los Angeles.
In November 2001, Spirit inaugurated service to San Juan, Puerto Rico, and implemented a fully integrated Spanish-language customer service plan including a website and dedicated reservation line.
On June 24, 2002, Spirit launched Spirit Vacations in conjunction with GOGO Worldwide Vacations. The service offers air, hotel, and activities similar to many other vacations sites. The service is offered to many destinations in the United States and several of the most popular in the Caribbean and Latin America. The vacation brand is now operated solely by the Mark Travel Corporation.
In 2002, Spirit started new service to Denver, Colo., and Las Vegas, Nevada, and expanded service to many of its existing markets. The airline has since discontinued service to Denver.
In the Fall of 2003, Spirit resumed flights to Washington, D.C.’s Reagan National Airport, which had been suspended after the 9/11 terrorist attacks, and began service to Cancún, Mexico.
In 2004, the airline added Santo Domingo and Providence to its network. In 2005, Spirit Airlines launched its biggest expansion effort yet, adding numerous destinations in the Caribbean and Bahamas. By February 2006, Spirit’s portfolio of destinations in the region totaled ten. Spirit also began service to Grand Cayman
, San Francisco, and Boston in 2006, and in 2007 filed DOT
applications to offer service to Costa Rica, Haiti, the Netherlands Antilles, and Venezuela.
In 2006, Spirit announced it would exercise options and order 30 Airbus A320-200 aircraft for further expansion.The aircraft started delivery in March 2010.
and Air Asia yet has added numerous innovations to further the "ala carte" pricing option. As of October 1, 2007, Spirit is charging $3 for all drinks and $3 for bottled water.SpiritAir.com In 2007, Spirit became the largest air traffic carrier at Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport
.
On September 26, 2007, Spirit announced a new branding image for the airline that updates the look of its aircraft. Spirit stated that this new image will save money by being lighter weight and thus burning less fuel in flight. The new image is white background with accents in colors most represented in Caribbean and Latin American countries, consistent with Spirit’s route network. This new image will affect the carrier’s aircraft, uniforms, airports, and website.
On June 3, 2008, Spirit Airlines made a WARN (Worker Adjustment and Retraining notice) application to potentially relocate or lay off hundreds of pilots and flight attendants, and the closure of its San Juan crew base and LaGuardia crew base, with no change of flying at those stations.
Starting in September 2008, Spirit aircraft became “air billboards.” Plans for advertising on the overhead bins, tray tables, seatback inserts and bulkheads is being rolled out at present. US Airways
and Ryan Air are the first airlines to start advertising in the airplane, as well as the now defunct Skybus Airlines
that also sold "branded airplanes" as full-body advertisement along the fuselage.
A Bureau of Transportation Statistics report concluded that in 2008 Spirit had the highest number of complaints per passenger among U.S. airlines that carry more than 5 million passengers.
On April 14, 2009, Spirit raised the price of the first checked baggage paid online from $15 to $19 for tickets booked after December 16, 2008; customers continue to pay $25 at the airport. The second checked bag still costs $25, and 3–5 bags at $100 each. Other baggage fees apply for special items.
Spirit has been consistently changing fees, including seat fees: middle from $5 to $7, aisle from $10 to $12, while exit has remained at $15, and window has decreased from $15 to $12. Also, other fees that have changed include non-refundable ticket cancellation/re-booking from $80 to $100 online ($90 to $110 otherwise), unaccompanied minors from $75 to $100, and pet in cabin from $85 to $100. However, some of these fees are lower than other airlines in the industry.
In May, 2009, Spirit pilots overwhelmingly voted in favor of strike action (98% of votes) due to stalled contract negotiations with management. Areas of dispute include compensation, work rules and benefits. Talks are currently undergoing federal mediation. Spirit pilots are among the lowest paid Airbus pilots in the United States.
On 4 July 2009, The Jamaica Gleaner
reported that Spirit Airlines had reached an agreement with the Jamaican government to acquire Air Jamaica
. However, the Jamaica Observer reported on 5 July that the airline had not been sold as yet. However in April 2010 it was announced that Air Jamaica would be sold to Caribbean Airlines
and began a merged airline May 1, 2010
On Thursday September 17, 2009, the Federal Aviation Administration
fined Spirit Airlines $375,000 for violating the agency's consumer protection regulations.
On April 6, 2010, USA Today reported that Spirit will start to charge for carry-on bags on flights starting August 1, 2010, purchased after April 6, 2010. Bags that fit under the seat and measure 16"x14"12" are still free but passengers wishing to place larger bags destined in the overhead bin are charged.
As of October, 2011, Spirit reduced the weight limit for checked luggage from 50 pounds per bag to 40 pounds per bag, charging $25 for the first 9 extra pounds, and up to $100 for bags approaching 59 pounds over the 40 pound limit.
On June 12, 2010, Spirit grounded its flights when its pilots walked out on strike, stranding thousands of passengers. The strike came after more than four years of inconclusive negotiations between the airline and the Airline Pilots Association (ALPA), which represents Spirit's pilots. On June 15, negotiations between the airline and the ALPA resumed, and a tentative agreement was reached on June 16. Spirit announced that flights would resume on June 18.
In May 2011, Spirit announced terms for its upcoming IPO. The company plans to raise $300 million by offering 20 million shares at a price range of $14 to $16.
On June 21, 2011, Spirit announced a new fee of $5 to passengers who have their boarding passes printed by the check-in agent.
On August 12, 2011, Spirit was voted the worst airline to fly, by the Arabian Times Journal of Metro-Detroit, for Arab-Americans.
On November 16, 2011, Spirit Airlines announced that they would be establishing a crew and maintenance base at McCarran International Airport
in February 2012.
, the Caribbean
, South America
, and the United States
. It maintains bases at Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport
and Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport
.
New service between Dallas/Fort Worth (DFW) and New York - LaGuardia (LGA) begins February 9th, 2012.
New service between Dallas/Fort Worth (DFW) and Atlanta (ATL) begins February 9th, 2012.
New service between Dallas/Fort Worth (DFW) and Boston (BOS) begins March 22nd, 2012.
New service between Dallas/Fort Worth (DFW) and Orlando (MCO) begins March 22nd, 2012.
The Spirit Airlines all-Airbus fleet consists of the following 36 aircraft (as of November 2011):
As of September 2009, Spirit’s average fleet age was 3.3 years old. Spirit has the second youngest Airbus fleet in the Americas after the Mexican airline, Volaris
.
On November 15, 2011, Spirit entered a non-binding agreement for an order of 75 Airbus A320s, including 45 A320neo or new engine option aircraft, to be delivered between 2016 and 2021. This is in addition to an existing order of 33 A320 aircraft scheduled for delivery from November 2011 through the end of 2015.
called "Free Spirit". The three status tiers for members are Somebody, Elite, and VIP, offering progressively increasing benefits. In common with many frequent flyer programs, the level of membership increases as the member accumulates additional frequent flyer miles. Spirit Airlines will automatically charge you to renew the fair club, upon the end of the one year agreement. They have a 100% no refund policy once it has been charged. Rates can vary from the previous year.
program that offers drinks and snacks for purchase.
Spirit's advertising "may be more colorful than some," but it isn't "out of the norm" when compared with many retailers' ads, Super Bowl commercials and the content of TV series, Baldanza says.
2006
In 2006, the airline released a “Hunt for Hoffa” advertising campaign
with the tagline “Help us find Hoffa with our Hunt for Hoffa game and enjoy fares from just $39 each way.” The point of the game was to dig for Jimmy Hoffa
’s body by clicking grids on the airline’s website, and “winners” were taken to another webpage, saying "You found Hoffa!" thanking them for assisting the National Spirit Sale Center find the union leader’s body. Within hours after the promotion debuted, the airline received many complaints, and the promotion was taken down immediately and changed to another promotion, simply titled “Happy Sale.” This promotion was later listed as #8 on CNN Money
’s 101 Dumbest Moments in Business.
2007
In December 2007, the airline released a sale with the acronym MILF, standing for “Many Islands, Low Fares.” Online and TV media picked up on this and noted that M.I.L.F.
was popularized in the movie American Pie
as an acronym for "Mom I'd Like to Fuck." This controversy was covered on CBS
and ABC News
, Countdown with Keith Olbermann
, and The O'Reilly Factor
.
2008
In April 2008, the airline sent an email to its marketing subscription list announcing “We’re having a threesome. Join us in the fun.” Offering "three sales in one," the email repeatedly proposes the "threesome."
2009
On January 8, 2009, the airline announced the return of the MILF Special
, described as meaning "Many Islands, Low Fares".
On December 2, 2009, shortly after a well publicized car accident involving golfer Tiger Woods
, Spirit launched lowered fares in a promotion called the "Eye of the Tiger Sale". Imagery for the campaign featured an SUV crashing into a fire hydrant, with a tiger
leaning out the driver's side window.
2010
On February 2, 2010, the airline offered the "Many Unbelievably Fantastic Fares (MUFF
) to Diving Destinations" promotion. Many of their prominent Caribbean or Floridian destinations were featured.
On June 22, 2010, the airline offered the "Check Out The Oil On Our Beaches" promotion. The ad was in reference to Deepwater Horizon oil spill
, the largest in United States history.
On August 12, the airline offered the "Don't Be Blue, Slide Down To Low Fares with Double Fisted Savings". The ad was in reference to a jetBlue flight where a flight attendant deployed an emergency slide and left the aircraft with two bottles of beer. Imagery for the ad featured an opened aircraft door and a flight attendant going down an emergency slide with two beer bottles.
2011
Spirit made a "Go south" Valentine's Day themed ad showing a woman in a bikini and placed a candy heart with
the initial "VD" on her crotch, poking fun at venereal disease.
Shortly afterwards, Spirit made another Valentine's themed ad comparing a diamond ring to vacation packages (while saying
"Why not slip her a big package") then showing a gift box directly in front of a man's crotch.
On June 7, amidst the Anthony Weiner twitter photo scandal, Spirit offered "The Weiner Sale: With Fares Too HARD To Resist." The email promotion included the subject line "Want To See Our Weiner?"
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
ultra low-cost carrier
Low-cost carrier
A low-cost carrier or low-cost airline is an airline that generally has lower fares and fewer comforts...
operating scheduled flights throughout the Americas. The airline is headquartered in Miramar, Florida
Miramar, Florida
Miramar is a city in Broward County, Florida, United States. The city was named after the Miramar district of Havana, Cuba. As of the 2010 census, the population was 122,041...
, in the Miami metropolitan area. Spirit currently maintains a base
Airline hub
An airline hub is an airport that an airline uses as a transfer point to get passengers to their intended destination. It is part of a hub and spoke model, where travelers moving between airports not served by direct flights change planes en route to their destinations...
in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. Over half of the airline's flights are to destinations in the Bahamas, Caribbean
Caribbean
The Caribbean is a crescent-shaped group of islands more than 2,000 miles long separating the Gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean Sea, to the west and south, from the Atlantic Ocean, to the east and north...
, and Latin America
Latin America
Latin America is a region of the Americas where Romance languages – particularly Spanish and Portuguese, and variably French – are primarily spoken. Latin America has an area of approximately 21,069,500 km² , almost 3.9% of the Earth's surface or 14.1% of its land surface area...
.
History
Spirit Airlines was founded in 1980 in Macomb County, MichiganMacomb County, Michigan
-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 788,149 people, 309,203 households, and 210,876 families residing in the county. The population density was 1,640 people per square mile . There were 320,276 housing units at an average density of 667 per square mile...
, as Charter One, a Detroit-based charter tour operator providing travel packages to entertainment destinations such as Atlantic City, Las Vegas and the Bahamas. In 1990, Charter One began scheduled service from Boston and Providence, R.I., to Atlantic City. On May 29, 1992, Charter One brought jet equipment into the fleet, changed its name to Spirit Airlines and inaugurated service from Detroit to Atlantic City.
In April 1993, Spirit Airlines began scheduled service to destinations in Florida. During the next five years, Spirit expanded rapidly, increasing service from Detroit and adding service in new markets such as Myrtle Beach, S.C.; Los Angeles and New York.
Spirit relocated its headquarters in November 1999, moving from Eastpointe, Michigan
Eastpointe, Michigan
Eastpointe is a city in Macomb County of the U.S. state of Michigan. As of the 2000 census, the city population was 34,077. Eastpointe forms a part of the Metro Detroit area. It borders on 8 Mile Road on the northern edge of Detroit.- History :The community was first settled by Irish and German...
, to Miramar, Florida
Miramar, Florida
Miramar is a city in Broward County, Florida, United States. The city was named after the Miramar district of Havana, Cuba. As of the 2010 census, the population was 122,041...
. Prior to the decision to move the headquarters to Miramar, Spirit considered Atlantic City, New Jersey
Atlantic City, New Jersey
Atlantic City is a city in Atlantic County, New Jersey, United States, and a nationally renowned resort city for gambling, shopping and fine dining. The city also served as the inspiration for the American version of the board game Monopoly. Atlantic City is located on Absecon Island on the coast...
and Detroit, Michigan
Detroit, Michigan
Detroit is the major city among the primary cultural, financial, and transportation centers in the Metro Detroit area, a region of 5.2 million people. As the seat of Wayne County, the city of Detroit is the largest city in the U.S. state of Michigan and serves as a major port on the Detroit River...
. Expansion continued with the addition of the Chicago market as well as coast-to-coast service to Los Angeles.
In November 2001, Spirit inaugurated service to San Juan, Puerto Rico, and implemented a fully integrated Spanish-language customer service plan including a website and dedicated reservation line.
On June 24, 2002, Spirit launched Spirit Vacations in conjunction with GOGO Worldwide Vacations. The service offers air, hotel, and activities similar to many other vacations sites. The service is offered to many destinations in the United States and several of the most popular in the Caribbean and Latin America. The vacation brand is now operated solely by the Mark Travel Corporation.
In 2002, Spirit started new service to Denver, Colo., and Las Vegas, Nevada, and expanded service to many of its existing markets. The airline has since discontinued service to Denver.
In the Fall of 2003, Spirit resumed flights to Washington, D.C.’s Reagan National Airport, which had been suspended after the 9/11 terrorist attacks, and began service to Cancún, Mexico.
In 2004, the airline added Santo Domingo and Providence to its network. In 2005, Spirit Airlines launched its biggest expansion effort yet, adding numerous destinations in the Caribbean and Bahamas. By February 2006, Spirit’s portfolio of destinations in the region totaled ten. Spirit also began service to Grand Cayman
Grand Cayman
Grand Cayman is the largest of the three Cayman Islands and the location of the nation's capital, George Town. In relation to the other two Cayman Islands, it is approximately 75 miles southwest of Little Cayman and 90 miles southwest of Cayman Brac.-Geography:Grand Cayman encompasses 76% of...
, San Francisco, and Boston in 2006, and in 2007 filed DOT
United States Department of Transportation
The United States Department of Transportation is a federal Cabinet department of the United States government concerned with transportation. It was established by an act of Congress on October 15, 1966, and began operation on April 1, 1967...
applications to offer service to Costa Rica, Haiti, the Netherlands Antilles, and Venezuela.
In 2006, Spirit announced it would exercise options and order 30 Airbus A320-200 aircraft for further expansion.The aircraft started delivery in March 2010.
First ultra-low-cost American carrier
On March 6, 2007, Spirit announced their transition to become the first ultra-low-cost carrier in the United States. Their initial plan is to begin charging US$10 per checked bag for the first two bags ($5 if bags are pre-reserved online prior to the flight), in addition to charging $1 for drinks which were previously complimentary. Starting June 20, Spirit Plus was rebranded as BIG FRONT SEAT and will no longer provide business class service. For an additional fee, a person can choose BIG FRONT SEAT, or upgrade at the airport. The airline models its business plan and operating style to that of ultra low-cost carriers RyanairRyanair
Ryanair is an Irish low-cost airline. Its head office is at Dublin Airport and its primary operational bases at Dublin Airport and London Stansted Airport....
and Air Asia yet has added numerous innovations to further the "ala carte" pricing option. As of October 1, 2007, Spirit is charging $3 for all drinks and $3 for bottled water.SpiritAir.com In 2007, Spirit became the largest air traffic carrier at Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport
Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport
Fort Lauderdale – Hollywood International Airport is an international commercial airport located in unincorporated Broward County, Florida, three miles southwest of the central business district of Fort Lauderdale...
.
On September 26, 2007, Spirit announced a new branding image for the airline that updates the look of its aircraft. Spirit stated that this new image will save money by being lighter weight and thus burning less fuel in flight. The new image is white background with accents in colors most represented in Caribbean and Latin American countries, consistent with Spirit’s route network. This new image will affect the carrier’s aircraft, uniforms, airports, and website.
On June 3, 2008, Spirit Airlines made a WARN (Worker Adjustment and Retraining notice) application to potentially relocate or lay off hundreds of pilots and flight attendants, and the closure of its San Juan crew base and LaGuardia crew base, with no change of flying at those stations.
Starting in September 2008, Spirit aircraft became “air billboards.” Plans for advertising on the overhead bins, tray tables, seatback inserts and bulkheads is being rolled out at present. US Airways
US Airways
US Airways, Inc. is a major airline based in the U.S. city of Tempe, Arizona. The airline is an operating unit of US Airways Group and is the sixth largest airline by traffic and eighth largest by market value in the country....
and Ryan Air are the first airlines to start advertising in the airplane, as well as the now defunct Skybus Airlines
Skybus Airlines
Skybus Airlines Inc. was a privately held airline based in Columbus, Ohio, United States. It operated as an ultra-low-cost carrier modeled after the European airline Ryanair, and aimed to be the least expensive airline in the United States...
that also sold "branded airplanes" as full-body advertisement along the fuselage.
A Bureau of Transportation Statistics report concluded that in 2008 Spirit had the highest number of complaints per passenger among U.S. airlines that carry more than 5 million passengers.
On April 14, 2009, Spirit raised the price of the first checked baggage paid online from $15 to $19 for tickets booked after December 16, 2008; customers continue to pay $25 at the airport. The second checked bag still costs $25, and 3–5 bags at $100 each. Other baggage fees apply for special items.
Spirit has been consistently changing fees, including seat fees: middle from $5 to $7, aisle from $10 to $12, while exit has remained at $15, and window has decreased from $15 to $12. Also, other fees that have changed include non-refundable ticket cancellation/re-booking from $80 to $100 online ($90 to $110 otherwise), unaccompanied minors from $75 to $100, and pet in cabin from $85 to $100. However, some of these fees are lower than other airlines in the industry.
In May, 2009, Spirit pilots overwhelmingly voted in favor of strike action (98% of votes) due to stalled contract negotiations with management. Areas of dispute include compensation, work rules and benefits. Talks are currently undergoing federal mediation. Spirit pilots are among the lowest paid Airbus pilots in the United States.
On 4 July 2009, The Jamaica Gleaner
Gleaner Company
The Gleaner Company Ltd, is a newspaper publishing enterprise in Jamaica. Established in 1834 by Joshua and Jacob De Cordova, primary product is The Gleaner, a morning broadsheet published six days each week. It also publishes a Sunday paper, the Sunday Gleaner, and an evening tabloid, The Star...
reported that Spirit Airlines had reached an agreement with the Jamaican government to acquire Air Jamaica
Air Jamaica
Air Jamaica is the current national airline of Jamaica. It is has been owned and operated by Caribbean Airlines since 26 May 2011. The airline, headquartered in Piarco, Trinidad and Tobago also has administrative offices located in Norman Manley International Airport in Kingston, Jamaica...
. However, the Jamaica Observer reported on 5 July that the airline had not been sold as yet. However in April 2010 it was announced that Air Jamaica would be sold to Caribbean Airlines
Caribbean Airlines
Caribbean Airlines Limited operating as Caribbean Airlines is the national airline of Trinidad and Tobago. The airline is also flag carrier to Jamaica through its subsidiary, Caribbean Airlines-Air Jamaica Transition Limited or Air Jamaica....
and began a merged airline May 1, 2010
On Thursday September 17, 2009, the Federal Aviation Administration
Federal Aviation Administration
The Federal Aviation Administration is the national aviation authority of the United States. An agency of the United States Department of Transportation, it has authority to regulate and oversee all aspects of civil aviation in the U.S...
fined Spirit Airlines $375,000 for violating the agency's consumer protection regulations.
On April 6, 2010, USA Today reported that Spirit will start to charge for carry-on bags on flights starting August 1, 2010, purchased after April 6, 2010. Bags that fit under the seat and measure 16"x14"12" are still free but passengers wishing to place larger bags destined in the overhead bin are charged.
As of October, 2011, Spirit reduced the weight limit for checked luggage from 50 pounds per bag to 40 pounds per bag, charging $25 for the first 9 extra pounds, and up to $100 for bags approaching 59 pounds over the 40 pound limit.
On June 12, 2010, Spirit grounded its flights when its pilots walked out on strike, stranding thousands of passengers. The strike came after more than four years of inconclusive negotiations between the airline and the Airline Pilots Association (ALPA), which represents Spirit's pilots. On June 15, negotiations between the airline and the ALPA resumed, and a tentative agreement was reached on June 16. Spirit announced that flights would resume on June 18.
In May 2011, Spirit announced terms for its upcoming IPO. The company plans to raise $300 million by offering 20 million shares at a price range of $14 to $16.
On June 21, 2011, Spirit announced a new fee of $5 to passengers who have their boarding passes printed by the check-in agent.
On August 12, 2011, Spirit was voted the worst airline to fly, by the Arabian Times Journal of Metro-Detroit, for Arab-Americans.
On November 16, 2011, Spirit Airlines announced that they would be establishing a crew and maintenance base at McCarran International Airport
McCarran International Airport
McCarran International Airport is the principal commercial airport serving Las Vegas and Clark County, Nevada, United States. The airport is located five miles south of the central business district of Las Vegas, in the unincorporated area of Paradise in Clark County. It covers an area of and...
in February 2012.
Destinations
Spirit Airlines currently flies to 43 destinations throughout Central AmericaCentral America
Central America is the central geographic region of the Americas. It is the southernmost, isthmian portion of the North American continent, which connects with South America on the southeast. When considered part of the unified continental model, it is considered a subcontinent...
, the Caribbean
Caribbean
The Caribbean is a crescent-shaped group of islands more than 2,000 miles long separating the Gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean Sea, to the west and south, from the Atlantic Ocean, to the east and north...
, South America
South America
South America is a continent situated in the Western Hemisphere, mostly in the Southern Hemisphere, with a relatively small portion in the Northern Hemisphere. The continent is also considered a subcontinent of the Americas. It is bordered on the west by the Pacific Ocean and on the north and east...
, and the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. It maintains bases at Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport
Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport
Fort Lauderdale – Hollywood International Airport is an international commercial airport located in unincorporated Broward County, Florida, three miles southwest of the central business district of Fort Lauderdale...
and Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport
Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport
Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport , usually called Detroit Metro Airport, Metro Airport locally, or simply DTW, is a major international airport covering in Romulus, Michigan, a suburb of Detroit. It is Michigan's busiest airport....
.
New service between Dallas/Fort Worth (DFW) and New York - LaGuardia (LGA) begins February 9th, 2012.
New service between Dallas/Fort Worth (DFW) and Atlanta (ATL) begins February 9th, 2012.
New service between Dallas/Fort Worth (DFW) and Boston (BOS) begins March 22nd, 2012.
New service between Dallas/Fort Worth (DFW) and Orlando (MCO) begins March 22nd, 2012.
Awards
The International Business Council of Florida (IBCF) has presented Spirit Airlines with its prestigious "Florida Business Award" for best company in the airline category for 2009. Spirit was among a select group of finalists nominated by the IBCF's strategic alliance partners, including leading business organizations and chambers of commerce from throughout the state. American, Delta, Southwest and United were the other candidates.Current
| Aircraft | In Fleet | Orders | Seats | Notes | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Y+ | Y | Total | ||||
| Airbus A319-100 | 26 | 0 | 10 | 135 | 145 | |
| Airbus A320-200 | 8 | 62 | 4 | 174 | 178 | |
| Airbus A320neo Airbus A320 family The Airbus A320 family is a family of short- to medium-range, narrow-body, commercial passenger jet airliners manufactured by Airbus Industrie.Airbus was originally a consortium of European aerospace companies, and is now fully owned by EADS. Airbus's name has been Airbus SAS since 2001... |
0 | 45 | ||||
| Airbus A321-200 | 2 | 0 | 4 | 214 | 218 | |
| Total | 36 | 107 | ||||
As of September 2009, Spirit’s average fleet age was 3.3 years old. Spirit has the second youngest Airbus fleet in the Americas after the Mexican airline, Volaris
Volaris
Concesionaria Vuela Compañía de Aviación, S.A. de C.V., operating as Volaris, is a low-cost airline from Mexico, and the country's second largest airline after Aeroméxico, thus being a leading competitor in the Mexican domestic market, with a market share of around 13-14% of domestic...
.
On November 15, 2011, Spirit entered a non-binding agreement for an order of 75 Airbus A320s, including 45 A320neo or new engine option aircraft, to be delivered between 2016 and 2021. This is in addition to an existing order of 33 A320 aircraft scheduled for delivery from November 2011 through the end of 2015.
Retired
The following planes no longer operate in the Spirit Airlines fleet, or are being leased:| Aircraft | Total | Year retired | Replacement |
|---|---|---|---|
| Airbus A321-200 | 4 | 2008 | Airbus A320 Family Airbus A320 family The Airbus A320 family is a family of short- to medium-range, narrow-body, commercial passenger jet airliners manufactured by Airbus Industrie.Airbus was originally a consortium of European aerospace companies, and is now fully owned by EADS. Airbus's name has been Airbus SAS since 2001... |
| McDonnell Douglas MD-81 McDonnell Douglas MD-80 / MD-90 The McDonnell Douglas MD-80 is a family of twin-engine, short- to medium-range, single-aisle commercial jet airliners. The MD-80 series were lengthened and updated from the DC-9. The airliner family can seat from 130 up to 172 passengers depending on variant and seating configuration.The MD-80... |
1 | 2006 | Airbus A320 Family |
| McDonnell Douglas MD-82 McDonnell Douglas MD-80 / MD-90 The McDonnell Douglas MD-80 is a family of twin-engine, short- to medium-range, single-aisle commercial jet airliners. The MD-80 series were lengthened and updated from the DC-9. The airliner family can seat from 130 up to 172 passengers depending on variant and seating configuration.The MD-80... |
8 | 2006 | Airbus A320 Family |
| McDonnell Douglas MD-83 McDonnell Douglas MD-80 / MD-90 The McDonnell Douglas MD-80 is a family of twin-engine, short- to medium-range, single-aisle commercial jet airliners. The MD-80 series were lengthened and updated from the DC-9. The airliner family can seat from 130 up to 172 passengers depending on variant and seating configuration.The MD-80... |
5 | 2006 | Airbus A320 Family |
Frequent flyer program
In 2006, Spirit launched a frequent flyer programFrequent flyer program
A frequent flyer program is a loyalty program offered by many airlines. Typically, airline customers enrolled in the program accumulate frequent flyer miles corresponding to the distance flown on that airline or its partners. There are other ways to accumulate miles...
called "Free Spirit". The three status tiers for members are Somebody, Elite, and VIP, offering progressively increasing benefits. In common with many frequent flyer programs, the level of membership increases as the member accumulates additional frequent flyer miles. Spirit Airlines will automatically charge you to renew the fair club, upon the end of the one year agreement. They have a 100% no refund policy once it has been charged. Rates can vary from the previous year.
In-flight services
Spirit has Skymart, a buy on boardBuy on board
In commercial flight, buy on board is a system where food or beverages are paid for on board; often food or beverages are not included in the ticket price for certain fare classes....
program that offers drinks and snacks for purchase.
Controversial advertisements
Spirit CEO Ben Baldanza says Spirit has cut its marketing and distribution expenses by more than 80% during the last three years "by using edgy, viral marketing." The savings have resulted in very inexpensive fares, he says.Spirit's advertising "may be more colorful than some," but it isn't "out of the norm" when compared with many retailers' ads, Super Bowl commercials and the content of TV series, Baldanza says.
2006
In 2006, the airline released a “Hunt for Hoffa” advertising campaign
Advertising campaign
An advertising campaign is a series of advertisement messages that share a single idea and theme which make up an integrated marketing communication...
with the tagline “Help us find Hoffa with our Hunt for Hoffa game and enjoy fares from just $39 each way.” The point of the game was to dig for Jimmy Hoffa
Jimmy Hoffa
James Riddle "Jimmy" Hoffa was an American labor union leader....
’s body by clicking grids on the airline’s website, and “winners” were taken to another webpage, saying "You found Hoffa!" thanking them for assisting the National Spirit Sale Center find the union leader’s body. Within hours after the promotion debuted, the airline received many complaints, and the promotion was taken down immediately and changed to another promotion, simply titled “Happy Sale.” This promotion was later listed as #8 on CNN Money
CNN
Cable News Network is a U.S. cable news channel founded in 1980 by Ted Turner. Upon its launch, CNN was the first channel to provide 24-hour television news coverage, and the first all-news television channel in the United States...
’s 101 Dumbest Moments in Business.
2007
In December 2007, the airline released a sale with the acronym MILF, standing for “Many Islands, Low Fares.” Online and TV media picked up on this and noted that M.I.L.F.
MILF (slang)
MILF, an acronym for "Mother/Mom/Mum I'd Like to Fuck", is a common colloquial term generally regarded as vulgar when spelled out. It denotes a sexually attractive older female, generally between 25 and 50 years of age.-History:...
was popularized in the movie American Pie
American Pie (film)
American Pie is a 1999 teen comedy film written by Adam Herz. American Pie was the directorial film debut of brothers Paul and Chris Weitz, and the first film in the American Pie film series...
as an acronym for "Mom I'd Like to Fuck." This controversy was covered on CBS
CBS
CBS Broadcasting Inc. is a major US commercial broadcasting television network, which started as a radio network. The name is derived from the initials of the network's former name, Columbia Broadcasting System. The network is sometimes referred to as the "Eye Network" in reference to the shape of...
and ABC News
ABC News
ABC News is the news gathering and broadcasting division of American broadcast television network ABC, a subsidiary of The Walt Disney Company...
, Countdown with Keith Olbermann
Keith Olbermann
Keith Theodore Olbermann is an American political commentator and writer. He has been the chief news officer of the Current TV network and the host of Current TV's weeknight political commentary program, Countdown with Keith Olbermann, since June 20, 2011...
, and The O'Reilly Factor
The O'Reilly Factor
The O'Reilly Factor, originally titled The O'Reilly Report from 1996 to 1998 and often called The Factor, is an American talk show on the Fox News Channel hosted by commentator Bill O'Reilly, who often discusses current controversial political issues with guests.The program was the most watched...
.
2008
In April 2008, the airline sent an email to its marketing subscription list announcing “We’re having a threesome. Join us in the fun.” Offering "three sales in one," the email repeatedly proposes the "threesome."
2009
On January 8, 2009, the airline announced the return of the MILF Special
MILF
MILF, an acronym for "Mother/Mom/Mum I'd Like to Fuck", is a common colloquial term generally regarded as vulgar when spelled out. It denotes a sexually attractive older female, generally between 25 and 50 years of age.-History:...
, described as meaning "Many Islands, Low Fares".
On December 2, 2009, shortly after a well publicized car accident involving golfer Tiger Woods
Tiger Woods
Eldrick Tont "Tiger" Woods is an American professional golfer whose achievements to date rank him among the most successful golfers of all time. Formerly the World No...
, Spirit launched lowered fares in a promotion called the "Eye of the Tiger Sale". Imagery for the campaign featured an SUV crashing into a fire hydrant, with a tiger
Tiger
The tiger is the largest cat species, reaching a total body length of up to and weighing up to . Their most recognizable feature is a pattern of dark vertical stripes on reddish-orange fur with lighter underparts...
leaning out the driver's side window.
2010
On February 2, 2010, the airline offered the "Many Unbelievably Fantastic Fares (MUFF
Muff
Muff may refer to:* Muff , a fashion accessory, usually of fur, for keeping the hands warm** Earmuffs, a device for protecting the ears** Muff, a slang term for female pubic hair, or by extension sometimes the vulva...
) to Diving Destinations" promotion. Many of their prominent Caribbean or Floridian destinations were featured.
On June 22, 2010, the airline offered the "Check Out The Oil On Our Beaches" promotion. The ad was in reference to Deepwater Horizon oil spill
Deepwater Horizon oil spill
The Deepwater Horizon oil spill is an oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico which flowed unabated for three months in 2010, and continues to leak fresh oil. It is the largest accidental marine oil spill in the history of the petroleum industry...
, the largest in United States history.
On August 12, the airline offered the "Don't Be Blue, Slide Down To Low Fares with Double Fisted Savings". The ad was in reference to a jetBlue flight where a flight attendant deployed an emergency slide and left the aircraft with two bottles of beer. Imagery for the ad featured an opened aircraft door and a flight attendant going down an emergency slide with two beer bottles.
2011
Spirit made a "Go south" Valentine's Day themed ad showing a woman in a bikini and placed a candy heart with
the initial "VD" on her crotch, poking fun at venereal disease.
Shortly afterwards, Spirit made another Valentine's themed ad comparing a diamond ring to vacation packages (while saying
"Why not slip her a big package") then showing a gift box directly in front of a man's crotch.
On June 7, amidst the Anthony Weiner twitter photo scandal, Spirit offered "The Weiner Sale: With Fares Too HARD To Resist." The email promotion included the subject line "Want To See Our Weiner?"