Asheville Regional Airport: Spirit Airlines joins airport, adds 3 Florida flights

Dillon Davis | The Citizen-Times

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ASHEVILLE — Spirit Airlines is bringing another Florida connection to the mountains.

In a joint announcement Wednesday, the airline said it's adding service at Asheville Regional Airport to and from the Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport, the Orlando International Airport and the Tampa International Airport starting in September.

Flights to Fort Lauderdale and Orlando will run three times weekly while flights to Tampa start at two times a week. Service expands in November with an additional flight each week for all three destinations.

It is the second Florida expansion in Asheville this month, after Allegiant Air said it's adding new flights this year to both Fort Lauderdale and Orlando.

"We are so excited to offer service between the beautiful Asheville region and three cities in sunny Florida, as they are all incredible destinations," said Mark Kopczak, Spirit's vice president of network planning, adding Florida guests will be able to experience the Blue Ridge Mountains, more than 80 craft breweries and the local arts scene.

"Meanwhile, guests in the Asheville area who are looking for a warm beach vacation this winter will now be able to getaway for less with our ultra-low fares," he said.

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Michael Reisman, the airport's deputy executive director of development and operations, said the expansion adds more opportunities for travelers. It is the airport's sixth airline it services including Allegiant, American Airlines, Delta Air Lines, Elite Aireways and United Airlines.

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"The Western North Carolina area has grown economically in recent years," Reisman said. "We're coming off four years of record growth at the Asheville Regional Airport and we're on track for yet another year, a fifth, of record growth.

"The opportunities Spirit Airlines is bringing continues to extend what we know are continuing opportunities for growth and more development and economic opportunity for our region."

The Asheville airport topped its record for the most annual passengers in its history last year, with 956,634 passengers, up 50 percent since 2012. Bloomberg reported this month the airport is one of the nation's fastest-growing at a pace of 33 percent on average over the last two years.