Spirit Airlines is adding Caribbean vacation spots to its schedules with new flights to Grand Cayman and to the Central American diving haven of Belize, the Dania Beach-based carrier announced Tuesday.
“Fort Lauderdale is our home,” John Kirby, vice president of network planning, said in a telephone interview. “It’s one of our better performing stations. We think there is an opportunity to do more in Fort Lauderdale. There are many markets unserved from Fort Lauderdale. Belize and Grand Cayman are good examples of those.”
The details for each new destination:
Grand Cayman
♦ Start date: Dec. 4.
♦ Airport: Owen Roberts International Airport. The service marks Spirit’s return to the Fort Lauderdale-Grand Cayman route after a nearly 20-year hiatus.
♦ Destination features: World-class diving and snorkeling, luxury resorts, Seven Mile Beach, Stingray City, underground crystal caves, Queen Elizabeth II Botanic Park, international financial center with more than 200 banks.
♦ Fares: Special introductory prices starting at $66 one-way, including taxes and fees. Fares are available for booking now on spirit.com
♦ Frequency: Three nonstops a week (Thursday, Saturday and Sunday).
Belize City, Belize
♦ Start date: Nov. 21.
♦ Airport: Philip S.W. Goldson International Airport.
♦ Destination features: World’s second largest barrier reef, snorkeling, fishing, water excursions, private islands, Belize Rainforest, tours through ancient Maya temples.
♦ Fares: Introductory prices include $85 one-way from Fort Lauderdale; $180 one-way from Belize. (The airline notes the following: “One-way fares are subject to a 21-day advance purchase, valid for booking on Aug. 5 through Aug. 11, and travel from Dec. 3 through Feb 11, 2026. Blackout dates: Dec. 11 through Jan. 20, 2026. Subject to availability.)
♦ Frequency: Three nonstop flights a week (Monday, Friday and Saturday).
Spirit continues to lead all other carriers in passengers carried at Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport, immediately trailed by JetBlue Airways and Southwest Airlines.
Since emerging from Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in March, the airline has recast its schedules and upgraded its service as it combines improved passenger experiences with economical fares. But it also recently acknowledged plans to furlough up to 270 pilots and to demote 140 captains next month as it seeks to right-size its head count with forthcoming schedules.
In a statement Tuesday, the airline said it intends to offer “more than 100 peak-day departures and nonstop service to more than 70 destinations by the end of 2025” from Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport.
Besides Belize CIty and the Cayman Islands, other fresh flight additions involving Fort Lauderdale include:
- Key West: Launches Nov. 6 with four flights a week, increasing to daily service on Dec. 18 for the holiday season.
- Macon, Georgia: Launches Oct. 16 with two flights weekly.
- Savannah, Georgia: Launches Oct. 9 with four flights a week (service from Savannah to Newark, New Jersey, starts Aug. 14).
- Columbia, South Carolina: Started June 6 with three flights a week.
- Chattanooga, Tennessee: Started June 5, also with three weekly flights.
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