Latest news with #Broward-based
Miami Herald
23-07-2025
- Business
- Miami Herald
JetBlue is adding new flights in Fort Lauderdale. See destinations and details
About a month after pulling the plug on its last remaining flights from Miami International Airport, JetBlue Airways is ramping up business in Broward. The airline plans to add service this year between Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport and four new cities: Norfolk, Virginia, Tampa, Atlanta and Austin. The Long Island City-based carrier will also increase frequency between FLL and Las Vegas, Los Angeles, Phoenix and Raleigh-Durham. And the airline will make its premium Mint service more available on flights from Fort Lauderdale, the company announced Wednesday. Seats on all flights can be booked now. They start taking off as early as Oct. 26. The changes indicate that South Florida remains a lucrative market. They come after JetBlue resumed service in July between FLL and Philadelphia and Guayaquil, Ecuador. The airline said all the additions are in response to customer demand. But in June, the airline said it would stop flying from Miami International Airport starting Sept. 3. 'Fort Lauderdale has long been a key market for JetBlue, and we're excited to keep growing with the region,' Dave Jehn, vice president of network planning and airline partnerships, said in a statement. The moves also show a one-time low-cost carrier departing from that identity, looking to compete with the larger airlines that depend on business travelers. That's a growing trend across the airline industry. Broward-based Spirit Airlines this month introduced extra leg room and took out the middle row in several rows on many of its flights. It also renamed its cabins in June. MORE: Heading to Key West but don't want to drive? Spirit starting FLL flights JetBlue will offer its premium Mint service on the new flights between FLL and Las Vegas, Los Angeles and Phoenix. By this year's winter, every JetBlue flight between FLL and those three cities will offer Mint, with lie-flat seating, improved dining and personalized service. 'Mint is a reimagined premium experience that offers a different level of comfort, privacy and hospitality,' Jehn said. The new flights are a boost for FLL. In 2024, JetBlue accounted for 6.4 million passengers at the airport, second only to Spirit and about 19% of all travelers there. Through the end of June, 2025, JetBlue has had 3.2 million passengers at FLL, an 8.2% decline from last year, but still in second place. The airline is counting that more flights will increase those numbers. This summer, JetBlue i has an average of 72 daily departures to 31 destinations non-stop. In December, that will rise to 95 daily departures to 37 cities. New flights from FLL ▪ Norfolk, Virginia New service; starts Dec. 4, 2025; 5 flight per week ▪ Tampa New service; starts Dec 4, 2025; 1 daily flight ▪ Atlanta Return of service; starts Dec. 4, 2025, 1 daily flight ▪ Austin Return of service; starts Nov. 20, 2025; 2 daily flights ▪ Las Vegas Adding 1 daily flight to existing service; bringing total to 3 daily flights; starts Oct. 26, 2025 ▪ Los Angeles Adding 1 daily fight to existing service; bringing total to 6 daily flights; starts Nov. 21, 2025 ▪ Phoenix Adding 1 daily flight to existing service; bringing total to 2 daily flights; starts Oct. 26, 2025, winter seasonal ▪ Raleigh-Durham Adding 1 daily flight to existing service; bringing total to 2 daily flights; starts Oct. 26, 2025 ▪ Richmond, Virginia Adding 1 daily flight to existing service; bringing total to 2 daily flights; starts Oct. 26, 2025
Miami Herald
23-07-2025
- Business
- Miami Herald
Heading to Key West but don't want to drive? Spirit starting FLL flights
Long-time low-cost carrier Spirit Airlines is adding a destination to paradise as it continues the journey to remake itself. The Broward-based airline known for bright yellow planes will offer year-round flights between Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport and Key West International Airport for the first time. On Nov. 6, Spirit will launch four weekly flights, on Monday, Thursday, Friday and Sunday. Daily flights will begin on Dec. 18. Fares start at $79 one-way for trips booked by Nov. 19. Tickets are now available on the airline's website. Spirit is betting on a route that brings together two of the Sunshine State's most popular locales. Fort Lauderdale boasts popular beaches, a renovated pier, growing airport, booming port and influx of youth. The Florida Keys continue to see sky-high demand from tourists all over the world. While Miami — the city and its hotels — was shut out of the 2025 World's Best issue of Travel + Leisure, the Florida Keys ranked eighth among best islands in the continental United States. 'Spirit Airlines entering the Key West market this November is fantastic news for our passengers near and far,' Richard Strickland, executive director of airports at Key West International Airport, said in a statement. 'We welcome this addition to our selection of carriers and greatly anticipate access to Spirit's expansive network of destinations.' Key West will be the eighth destination in Florida that Spirit serves. Fort Myers, Miami, Orlando, Pensacola, Tampa and West Palm Beach are the others, along with Fort Lauderdale. The $79 one-way fares are subject to a 21-day advance purchase, valid for booking July 22 through Nov. 19, 2025, and travel from Nov. 6 through Dec. 17, 2025, the airline said. Blackout dates are Nov. 20 to Dec. 2, 2025. The Key West service comes after Spirit announced in July new direct flights between FLL and Macon, Georgia. The airline will have two flights a week beginning Oct. 16, starting at $49.99 one way. Macon is home to the Allman Brothers and Luther Williams Field, the baseball stadium used in '42,' the film about Jackie Robinson's life. A new Spirit Airlines? Beyond tourist attractions, the new flights will also give travelers an early glimpse of the new, slightly more upscale Spirit. In June, the airline started installing a section of seats — seven rows near the front — that have four additional inches of legroom, a total to 32 inches. The majority of its fleet is expected to have this feature by the end of July and all planes will in 2026. Spirit is also getting rid of its middle seats in the premium section. Flights in July are the first ones that offer the new perks. The moves come as Spirit is looking to carve out a market segment in a competitive market following several tough years. It's now taking on the bigger players with its premium offerings. In April, a new president and CEO, Dave Davis, took over. He replaced longtime President and CEO Ted Christie, who resigned April 7 after successfully leading the company through restructuring. On Feb. 20, the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of New York approved the carrier's plan to continue operating as a business, and cleared bankruptcy shortly after. Davis came from Sun Country Airlines, where he was president and chief financial officer and a member of its board of directors since December 2019. He was credited with helping make it one of the most profitable airlines in the U.S., outperforming Spirit and Frontier. Can new cabin names help? Travelers to Key West will also get a chance to try out Spirit's new cabin names that debuted in June: Spirit First (formerly Go Big) ▪ Big front seat/extra legroom ▪ Carry-on and first checked bag free ▪ No change or cancel fees ▪ Priority check-in and boarding ▪ Reserved overhead bin space ▪ Complimentary snacks and drinks ▪ Wi-Fi Premium Economy (formerly Go Comfy) ▪ Extra legroom ▪ No middle seat ▪ One carry-on bag free ▪ No change or cancel fees ▪ Priority boarding ▪ Reserved overhead bin space Value (formerly Go) ▪ One carry-on bag free ▪ Seat selection costs extra ▪ Checked bags purchased separately
Miami Herald
21-06-2025
- Business
- Miami Herald
JetBlue is pulling out of the Miami airport, but will remain at FLL. See details
JetBlue Airways will halt service at Miami International Airport, the airline said on Saturday. The Long Island City-based carrier cited poor financial performance. JetBlue has a small footprint at MIA, with one or two daily flights between MIA and Boston. But 'to free aircraft for new routes, we've recently made the decision to end a small number of unprofitable flights including between Boston and Miami,' Derek Dombrowski, director of corporate communications, said in an email statement sent to the Miami Herald. The changes are effective Sept. 3, he said. Travelers booked on cancelled flights 'will have the option to fly via Fort Lauderdale or receive a full refund to their original form of payment,' Dombrowski said. The move was a business decision. 'We continually evaluate how our network is performing and make changes as needed,' Dombrowski said. JetBlue informed MIA of the changes on Friday, Greg Chin, communications director for Miami-Dade Aviation Department, said in a phone call with the Miami Herald on Saturday. He didn't elaborate on other details. JetBlue's Fort Lauderdale presence JetBlue will continue to fly to Boston from nearby Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport as well as West Palm Beach, Dombrowski said. The airline has a strong presence at FLL. In 2024, JetBlue served about 6.8 million passengers at FLL, down 2.1% from 2023 but still the second largest carrier at that airport, only behind Spirit. It carried 19% of all travelers to and from the Broward County airport. This year, JetBlue remains FLL's second largest carrier. Through April 30, the airline had 2.2 million passengers, even though that's down 6% from the same period in 2024. In 2021, to make a larger bet on South Florida as the COVID-19 pandemic was still in full force, JetBlue expanded at MIA, adding as many as 14 daily flights, including as many as four times a day to Boston. The airline also added direct flights between MIA and New York-JFK, Newark, Los Angeles and Hartford. Since then, JetBlue has scaled back service in Miami due to falling demand. It was also slowed down by the 2024 ruling of a federal judge in Massachusetts that blocked an attempted merger with Broward-based Spirit, citing anti-competitive laws. On Saturday, JetBlue had a total of two arrivals at MIA, each one from Boston, according to the airport's flight tracker. And it had one departure, also to Boston.
Miami Herald
21-05-2025
- Business
- Miami Herald
Spirit Airlines makes some changes for travelers. Here are 5 takeaways
Spirit Airlines, known for its budget-friendly approach and distinctive yellow planes, is making a few changes. The Broward-based airline is introducing a revamped premium section, 'Go Comfy,' offering more legroom, and also offering new benefits for its loyalty program members. The changes come as part of Spirit's strategy to compete with larger airlines and improve its market position under the leadership of new CEO Dave Davis. FULL STORY: Spirit Airlines just added several new 'comfy' benefits for travelers Here are the highlights: Enhanced Premium Section: Spirit Airlines is reconfiguring its seating to offer an additional four inches of legroom in its 'Go Comfy' section, transforming it into a more traditional premium option. This upgrade is set to begin in June, with most aircraft completed by July and the remainder by and amenities: Travelers started booking these extra-legroom seats in May for flights beginning July 9. Additional amenities in the premium section include preferred seating, a free carry-on bag, priority boarding and complimentary snacks and Expansion: Spirit is expanding its routes with new nonstop flights from Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport to Savannah, Georgia; Chattanooga, Tennessee; and Columbia, South Carolina. The expansion is important for maintaining Spirit's position as the leading airline at the Broward Program Enhancements: The Free Spirit loyalty program is being upgraded to offer more redemption options and complimentary upgrades for members and credit card holders. New benefits include two free checked bags for Free Spirit Travel More Mastercard holders and the introduction of a Free Spirit debit and strategic changes: Under the new leadership of CEO Dave Davis, Spirit Airlines is making the changes to enhance customer value and compete more effectively in the airline industry. Davis, previously with Sun Country Airlines, is recognized for his role in making it one of the most profitable airlines in the U.S. The summary points above were compiled with the help of AI tools and edited by journalists in the Miami Herald newsroom. The full story in the link at top was reported, written and edited entirely by Miami Herald journalists.
Miami Herald
13-05-2025
- Business
- Miami Herald
Spirit Airlines just added several new ‘comfy' benefits for travelers
You may not recognize Spirit Airlines. The Broward-based carrier is introducing four extra inches of legroom to an enhanced premium section and new loyalty program benefits, including upgrades. Yes, the same discount airline with bright yellow colors that travelers love to hate, is making it a bit more comfortable and fun to fly. On Tuesday, Spirit announced that it would 're-imagine' its Go Comfy section, turning it into a more traditional premium option, a sign that it intends to compete with bigger airlines. Spirit says it will reconfigure seating to carve out more legroom. The work will start in June and the majority of airplanes will be finished by July, with the remainder done in 2026. Travelers can start booking extra-legroom seats starting May 15, 2025, for travel beginning July 9, the airline said. Other amenities include preferred seating and a free carry-on bag. Route expansions Spirit also said it will offer nonstop flights between Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport and Savannah, Georgia; Chattanooga, Tennessee; and Columbia, South Carolina. That's important for FLL because Spirit is the top airline at the Broward airport. In March, Spirit accounted for 2.5 million passengers at FLL. While that marked a 12% decline from March 2024, it was by far the top airline with a 28% market share. JetBlue was second with 19%. The moves are the most significant since the airline named a new president and CEO, Dave Davies, who took over on April 21. He replaced longtime President and CEO Ted Christie, who resigned April 7 after successfully leading the company through restructuring. On Feb. 20, the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of New York approved the carrier's plan to continue operating as a business, and cleared bankruptcy shortly after. Davis came from Sun Country Airlines, where he was president and chief financial officer and a member of its board of directors since December 2019. He was credited with helping make it one of the most profitable airlines in the U.S., outperforming Spirit and Frontier. His team at Spirit is wasting no time making changes. 'Spirit's new premium options offer travelers' exceptional value, and we're creating even more opportunities for guests to experience them,' Rana Ghosh, senior vice president and chief commercial officer at Spirit Airlines, said in a statement. 'We're also adding more value and perks for our loyalty members at a time when others are taking away benefits.' Here's a breakdown of the new amenities and benefits: New comforts in Spirit's Go Comfy ▪ Preferred seating includes seven rows near the front of the aircraft and more than 40 seats ▪ In those seats, an extra 4 inches of legroom giving a total of 32 inches ▪ Free carry-on-bag ▪ No change or cancel fees ▪ Priority boarding ▪ Reserved overhead bin space ▪ Snack and non-alcoholic beverage New benefits to Free Spirit loyalty program members and Free Spirit Travel More Mastercard holders ▪ Increased options for redemption including using Free Spirit point for Go Big and Go Comfy ▪ Complimentary upgrades for Free Spirit status members and Free Spirit credit card holders to a Big Front seat and Comfy Seat at boarding, based on availability, extending to one guest on the member's reservation; starting in June ▪ New two free checked bags benefit for Free Spirit Travel More Mastercard holders; to start later in 2025, unspecified month ▪ New Free Spirit debit card will launch this fall; 'will allow anyone to earn Free Spirit points on their everyday spending and redeem those points for travel ... while receiving Group 2 Priority Boarding and a 25% rebate on in-flight purchases' Spirit also said that travelers who earn Free Spirit Gold and Silver Status will continue to enjoy all existing benefits including Shortcut Security and seat selection with no increase in the requirements to earn status for the 2025 program year. Guests with Gold Status will also continue to enjoy free bags, Wi-Fi (subject to availability), complimentary snacks and drinks, including alcohol on eligible flights. More information For more details on the new benefits or information on how to join the loyalty program, go to Spirit's website at
