Spirit Airlines raises profile with new South Florida headquarters
Spirit Airlines is jumping into the consolidated headquarters and training center game with a new facility just a stone's throw from the Fort Lauderdale airport in South Florida.
The hometown carrier plans to break ground on the up to 500,000-square foot campus early next year with plans to open the facility by mid-2022. With an estimated cost of about $250 million, it will house Spirit's more than 1,000 headquarters employees and bring pilot, flight attendant and other training facilities in-house.
The new campus will be located in the Dania Pointe development, about a mile-and-a-half south of the Fort Lauderdale/Hollywood International Airport (FLL) and just off Interstate 95.
"People will see this building from the freeway, they will see this from the airport," Spirit CEO Ted Christie told TPG Thursday. "This will drive brand awareness in South Florida."
Related:Spirit Airlines unveils new seats that it says will make for happier passengers
The ultra-low-cost-carrier has maintained its headquarters in leased space in Miramar, Florida -- about 15 miles or an up-to-30-minute drive from the Fort Lauderdale airport -- since 1999. That space, as Christie put it, is "busting at the seams" with staff located in several disconnected office locations.
In addition to the multiple corporate spaces, Spirit's crew training is outsourced across five sites in Broward County, creating additional inefficiencies, said the airline's chief financial officer Scott Haralson Thursday.
Spirit is just the latest airline to invest in a new headquarters space. Earlier this year, American Airlines opened a new campus in Fort Worth, Texas, that consolidates and updates its corporate offices and training facilities. Last year, Alaska Airlines broke ground on a new corporate office building next to its Seattle/Tacoma International Airport (SEA) base, and United Airlines consolidated its pilot training in a new facility in Denver.
The facility investments at Alaska, American and United come after each carrier went through their own respective mergers. All three deals extended each airlines' network, but also created a need for expanded corporate office and training space for the larger resulting companies.
Related:Spirit just began flying from Nashville, and it's already adding 3 more routes
Spirit, while not having gone through a merger, has grown rapidly in recent years and will continue to through the mid-2020s, said Haralson. This expansion prompted the need for a new campus, a process that began around five-years ago. The airline evaluated everything from a headquarters move, a dedicated training facility elsewhere in its network, to the campus idea that was ultimately selected.
The campus news comes as Spirit continues to invest in improving the customer experience, something Christie said dovetails with the guest investments. Operational improvements continue, he added, as do onboard upgrades, like the new seats unveiled in September, and pending frequent-flyer program update.
Gensler, which has designed everything from the JetBlue Airways terminal at New York John F. Kennedy (JFK) to the Star Alliance lounge at Los Angeles International Airport (LAX), will design Spirit's new campus.
TPG featured card
at American Express's secure site
Terms & restrictions apply. See rates & fees.
| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 5X | New! Earn 5X Membership Rewards® points on prepaid hotel stays booked through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App. |
| 3X | Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points on flights booked through AmexTravel.com, the Amex Travel App, or purchased directly from airlines. |
| 2X | Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points on prepaid car rentals booked through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App and cruises booked and paid through AmexTravel.com. |
| 1X | Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases. |
Pros
- Valuable dining and food-related credits
- Flexible rewards with airline and hotel transfer partners
- Multiple travel and purchase protections
- No foreign transaction fees
- Access to Amex Offers for additional savings (enrollment required)
Cons
- Not as useful for those living outside the U.S.
- 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 $8,000 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.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- New! Earn 5X Membership Rewards® points on prepaid hotel stays booked through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App.
- Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points on flights booked through AmexTravel.com, the Amex Travel App, or purchased directly from airlines.
- Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points on prepaid car rentals booked through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App and cruises booked and paid through AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
- Pay It® lets you tap in the American Express® App to quickly pay for small purchase amounts throughout the month and still earn rewards the way you usually do. Plan It® gives you the option to split up big purchases into equal monthly payments with a fixed fee. You’ll know upfront exactly how much you’ll pay.
- Updated! $120 Dining Credit: Earn up to a total of $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the Gold Card at Grubhub (including Seamless), Buffalo Wild Wings, Five Guys, The Cheesecake Factory, and Wonder. This can be an annual savings of up to $120. Enrollment required.
- $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year at over 10,000 qualifying U.S. Resy restaurants after you pay for eligible purchases with the American Express® Gold Card. That’s up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
- $84 Dunkin' Credit: Earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin’ locations. Enrollment required.
- $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Enjoy up to $120 in Uber Cash annually with your Gold Card. Just add your Card to your Uber account and you'll get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an Amex Card for your transaction.
- New! As an American Express® Gold Card Member, you can enjoy complimentary Hertz Five Star® Status. Enjoy benefits like skipping the counter at select locations, adding an additional driver at no additional cost*, and vehicle upgrades**. Benefit enrollment and Hertz Gold+ registration are required. *Additional drivers must meet standard rental qualifications and must be a spouse or domestic partner to qualify as complimentary. Other additional drivers subject to fees. **Benefits are subject to availability and vary by location. Additional Hertz program Terms and Conditions including age restrictions apply.
- Take advantage of a $100 credit towards eligible charges* at over 1,300 upscale hotels worldwide when you book The Hotel Collection through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App **. *Eligible charges vary by property. **The Hotel Collection requires a two-night minimum stay.
- Book your travel through the Amex Travel App with added peace of mind – backed by American Express® service and support. Only for American Express® Card Members.
- Whenever you need us, we're here. Our Member Services team will ensure you are taken care of. From lost Card replacement to statement questions, we are available to help 24/7.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees.
- Annual Fee is $325.
- Terms Apply.