Low-cost airline «Spirit Airlines»

Spirit Airlines is an American low cost airline based in Miramar, Florida with major destinations in the Americas. Spirit Airlines currently operates hubs in Fort Lauderdale, Florida and Detroit, Michigan. More than half of the company’s flights are to the Bahamas, Caribbean Islands and Latin America.Spirit Airlines was founded in 1980 in Macomb County, Michigan as Charter One, a Detroit-based charter tour operator providing full tour packages and passenger service to Atlantic City, Las Vegas and the Bahamas. In 1990, Charter One began scheduled air service from Boston and Providence, Rhode Island to Atlantic City. On May 29, 1992, Charter One introduced jet aircraft to its fleet, changing its name to Spirit Airlines and flying from Detroit to Atlantic City.

In April 1993, Spirit Airlines began scheduled flights to Florida cities. Over the next five years, Spirit expanded its operations to include Los Angeles, New York and South Carolina.

In November 1999, Spirit Airlines moved its headquarters from Michigan to Miramar, Florida. As the market expanded, flights to Chicago were added. In November 2001, Spirit began flying to San Juan, Puerto Rico and introduced full Spanish-language passenger support, including a website and bookings.

In 2002, Spirit began flights to Denver (Colorado) (later this direction was closed) and Las Vegas (Nevada).

In the fall of 2003, Spirit resumed flights to Washington, D.C., the capital’s Ronald Reagan National Airport, suspended after the September 11, 2001 attacks, and began flights to Cancun, Mexico.

On September 26, 2007, Spirit announced an update to the aircraft’s appearance. It was claimed that the new paint was lighter and the aircraft would burn less fuel because of it.

On September 17, 2009, the United States Federal Aviation Administration fined Spirit Airlines US$375,000 for violating consumer rights.

From August 1, 2010, Spirit Airlines began to charge an additional fee of up to 50 US dollars for hand luggage larger than 40x35x30 cm.

As a low-cost airline, Spirit Airlines follows a comparatively radical no-frills approach. For example, not only seat reservations, catering on board and hold luggage are subject to additional charges, but also hand luggage.

On February 7, 2022, it was announced that it would merge with Frontier Airlines.