Spirit Confirms Two Direct Flights To Tulum

Beginning in March, passengers may board flights from Orlando and Fort Lauderdale.

Spirit Airlines is the most recent U.S. airline to announce service to the new Tulum airport as its launch approaches.

The budget carrier said this week that beginning on March 28, 2024, it would provide daily flights from Fort Lauderdale (FLL) and Orlando (MCO) to Felipe Carrillo Puerto International Airport (TQO). With the addition of these flights, Tulum will join Cancun (CUN), Cabo San Lucas (SJD), Monterrey (MTY), and Puerto Vallarta (PVR) as the Mexican cities serviced by the airline.

Tickets start at $149 one-way and are available for purchase on Spirit's website, but are "subject to government permission." Spirit's first flights will be operated using a 182-seat Airbus A320.

According to John Kirby, Spirit Airlines' vice president of network planning, the new direct flights from Florida will make a trip to Mexico's picturesque coast easier than ever before in time for spring break. Tulum's new airport is a welcome development that will make it simpler for the tourists to visit the city and take advantage of its beaches, historical sites, and other attractions.

Delta Air Lines had been planning a service to Tulum from its mega-hub at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL) for about two weeks prior to this announcement. Spirit, however, will be the first ultra-low-cost airline to provide direct flights to the new airport, which is expected to reach 65 percent completion by September 2023.

The ultra-low-cost airline recorded a net loss of $157.6 million in its third-quarter earnings call, which was held the day before Spirit announced the new route. Spirit attributed the loss on lower demand for its services and dropped tickets. Furthermore, the trial for the planned JetBlue-Spirit merger began on October 16, 2023. If the merger is allowed, the merged airlines would have a greater presence in the lucrative Florida market.

Given the continuing trends, the company is assessing its growth profile and its competitive position. The first move has already been made by altering the frequency of aircraft deliveries until the end of the decade and by limiting the rate of capacity expansion in the near future.

 

Source: travelandleisure.com