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Spirit adds a new city to its route map as it expands in Puerto Rico

Oct. 14, 2021
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2 min read
Spirit Airlines Planes
Spirit adds a new city to its route map as it expands in Puerto Rico
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The network expansion continues for Spirit Airlines on Thursday.

The Miramar, Florida-based carrier just unveiled its newest route-map pin, Ponce, Puerto Rico, with once-daily flights from Orlando (MCO) that will launch Feb. 16, 2022.

Unlike many of Spirit's other new cities, this one will only be connected by a single route, though the airline is marketing 14 one-stop itineraries from departure points that connect through Orlando and onwards to Ponce.

"Our new nonstop flights to Orlando provide connectivity to many high-value travel options for flying in and out of Ponce, along with serving the vibrant and growing Puerto Rican community in Central Florida," John Kirby, the airline's vice president of network planning, said in a statement.

Adding service to the Mercedita International Airport (PSE) in Ponce joins Spirit's two other existing Puerto Rico destinations, San Juan and Aguadilla.

The airline will face off with rival JetBlue Airways, which already operates at least once daily flights from Orlando to Ponce, as well as spring and summer seasonal flights from New York-JFK, according to Cirium schedules.

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No other U.S. airline aside from JetBlue currently serves Ponce.

Value proposition: Why I no longer avoid flying with Spirit, Frontier and other budget carriers

For Spirit, adding Ponce is seemingly about connecting this Puerto Rican city to its broader U.S. network, as opposed to specifically bringing tourists to the island. The airline's press release doesn't just tout the one-stop connectivity, but it also highlights the "easy connections to dozens of destinations via Orlando."

While the Puerto Rico growth is noteworthy as a new dot to the airline's map, it's not the biggest network expansion we've seen from Spirit in recent months.

Just last week, the carrier inaugurated its first-ever flights to Miami, with a whopping 31 routes taking off throughout the winter, making the airline the second-largest in the city after American Airlines.

New Ponce flight schedule

Spirit Flight 3029 PSE-MCO 4:28 a.m. — 6:29 a.m.

Spirit Flight 3028 MCO-PSE 11:45 p.m. — 3:34 a.m. (+1 day)

Editorial disclaimer: Opinions expressed here are the author’s alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, airline or hotel chain, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of these entities.

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  • Some may have trouble using Uber and other dining credits
  • You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
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  • $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card to dine at U.S. Resy restaurants or make other eligible Resy purchases. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
  • $120 Dining Credit: Satisfy your cravings, sweet or savory, with the $120 Dining Credit. Earn up to $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, and Five Guys. Enrollment required.
  • Explore over 1,000 upscale hotels worldwide with The Hotel Collection and receive a $100 credit towards eligible charges* with every booking of two nights or more through AmexTravel.com. *Eligible charges vary by property.
  • No Foreign Transaction Fees.
  • Annual Fee is $325.
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