Press Releases
01/24/2017
Gov. Malloy and Conn. Airport Authority Announce Spirit Airlines Coming to Bradley International Airport
Spirit Airlines Will Commence Service at Bradley in April, Operating Routes to Myrtle Beach, Orlando, and Ft. Lauderdale
(HARTFORD, CT) – Governor Dannel P. Malloy and officials from the Connecticut Airport Authority (CAA) today announced that Spirit Airlines, an ultra-low cost carrier, will launch operations at Bradley International Airport beginning this spring, offering direct, nonstop service to several destinations, including Myrtle Beach, Orlando, and Ft. Lauderdale.
“Bradley International Airport is a major economic driver for Connecticut, and it continues to be a player in our efforts to grow our economy, boost tourism, and improve our transportation system. The addition of Spirit Airlines gives residents and businesses in our region another option in a growing, diversified selection of airlines that are servicing our region’s largest airport, and we welcome them to our state,” Governor Malloy said. “We created the Connecticut Airport Authority with the intention of not only having it focus on efforts to add new routes and new airlines to our state, but to also focus on how our state’s airports can be utilized as a tool to increase our economic viability. The recent growth at Bradley is showing that the authority is having an impact.”
“We are thrilled to name Hartford as the 60th city to join our growing network,” Mark Kopczak, Vice President of Network Planning for Spirit Airlines, said. “Spirit’s super low Bare Fares™ with Frill Control™ provide a new option to customers in Connecticut and western Massachusetts. As the first U.S. airline to give customers the choice to pay for only the extras they want, we know Spirit’s arrival in Hartford will free the region from high airfares and give many more travelers the ability to spend those savings on vacation.”
Bradley International Airport is not currently served by any ultra-low cost airlines. This airline business model, which is increasing in popularity among economy travelers and the college student population, offers introductory service to a variety of destinations for very competitive fares.
“Spirit Airlines will be a strong addition at Bradley, and we are particularly pleased to continue diversifying the types of service offerings available at the airport,” CAA Board Chairman Charles R. Gray said. “As a part of the Connecticut Airport Authority’s strategic goals, we chose to prioritize adding an ultra-low cost carrier at Bradley. We are pleased to achieve this goal, and we look forward to starting this partnership with Spirit.”
Spirit’s first flights at Bradley will begin on April 27 with a daily, year-round route to Orlando and four-days-per-week, seasonal service to Myrtle Beach, a destination that is not currently served by any carriers at the airport. Daily, year-round service to Ft. Lauderdale will begin on June 15.
“Myrtle Beach service is an important enhancement to Bradley’s route structure, and it is a location that has been frequently requested by our travelers,” CAA Executive Director Kevin A. Dillon, A.A.E., said. “The additional frequencies between Bradley, Orlando, and Ft. Lauderdale will provide our passengers with more options, while also helping spur competition and lower fares amongst the airlines.”
All of Spirit’s operations at Bradley will utilize either a 145-seat Airbus A319 or a 182-seat Airbus A320 aircraft. Further announcements are possible later in the year as plans progress.
A number of airlines have also added service at Bradley during the past year, including the addition of a regular a flight to Dublin, Ireland by Aer Lingus; a route to Los Angeles by American Airlines; a route to Denver by United Airlines; and a route to Pittsburgh by OneJet.
In 2016, Bradley marked its fourth consecutive year of year-over-year passenger growth. Amenities at the airport have grown during the past year, such as the addition of Escape Lounge, a Phillips Seafood restaurant, a duty-free shop, and a mothers nursing room.
The CAA was established in 2011 with the goal of transforming Bradley International Airport and five of the state’s general aviation airports (Danielson, Groton/New London, Hartford-Brainard, Waterbury-Oxford, and Windham Airports) into vibrant economic drivers. It is a quasi-public agency and has the flexibility and autonomy to streamline processes and maintain responsiveness to economic opportunities for the airports. The CAA Board of Directors consists of 11 members with a broad spectrum of experience in aviation-related and various other industries.
Bradley International Airport is the second largest airport in New England, with a customer base that covers the entire Northeast.
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