by Mia Taylor
Last updated: 2:25 PM ET, Thu May 23, 2024
Spirit Airlines is making a variety of network changes, including new nonstop service on one key route and scaling back some offerings.
In a press release issued today, the low-cost carrier said that its applying to the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) to launch new, nonstop service between San José Mineta International Airport (SJC) and Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA).
Spirit said in a statement that it is pursuing “the one round-trip for limited incumbents authorized at DCA through the passage of the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Reauthorization Act of 2024.”
If the request gets the green light, the route will be the only non-stop, low fare service operating between Silicon Valley and the U.S. capital city.
The proposed route would also “boost competition by introducing a low-fare competitor,” Spirit said, and provide Bay Area consumers with more flight options when it comes to traveling to the nation’s capital.
"Silicon Valley and Washington, D.C., share significant ties in the technology industry. New nonstop flights between the airports that sit at the heart of these two communities would make travel easier and foster opportunity for better collaboration between these influential markets," Matt Klein, executive vice president and chief commercial officer for Spirit Airlines, said in a statement.
Government leaders in San Jose applauded the plan to connect two of the nation’s important cities with low-cost service.
"In today's digital age, there is perhaps no place more important for our national leaders to access than the capital of Silicon Valley," San José Mayor Matt Mahan said in a statement.
Spirit initially introduced service at SJC back in 2023. The carrier already offers non-stop flights to Dallas-Fort Worth (DFW), Las Vegas (LAS) and San Diego (SAN) from SJC.
In separate news, The Points Guy reported that Spirit is also making changes at its Houston hub.
The carrier is adding one new flight twice daily between Houston's George Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH) and Dallas Fort Worth International Airport (DFW). That service is expected to start on August 14, per TPG.
Spirit is also adding more flights between IAH Orlando, Florida. The carrier will add a third daily flight to the Florida city as of August 14. An additional flight to Las Vegas is also on tap from IAH. It too will kick off in August.
The news of the new routes follows a similar announcement from the carrier back in March, when it revealed that it would introduce nine
nonstop services out of Boston; Portland, Oregon; Columbus, Ohio; and Salt Lake
City. And on May
8, the airline began flying between Portland and Chicago six times a week.
Finally as part of today's news, Spirit will be scaling back international offerings from IAH. That change will take effect August 13. Spirit said in a statement provided to TravelPulse that it will be reducing international flight offerings from Houston to seasonal service.
"In response to reduced demand in Latin American markets, we are
transitioning our international service from IAH to operate seasonally.
Our flights between IAH and Cancun (CUN), Guatemala City (GUA), San
Pedro Sula (SAP), and Tegucigalpa (XPL) will operate as scheduled
through the week of Aug. 12. We look forward to resuming international
service from IAH later this year. We are reaching out to guests with
affected travel plans to notify them of their options."
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