Spirit Airlines will add two southeast U.S. cities to its map in June, including starting service from Columbia Metropolitan Airport (CAE) in South Carolina just weeks after ULCC Allegiant Air begins operating from the airport.
Spirit, which is currently moving through a Chapter 11 bankruptcy reorganization, will also start serving Chattanooga Airport (CHA) in Tennessee in June. The airline will fly to the same three cities from both airports.
CAE is currently served by American Airlines, Delta Air Lines and United Airlines. Las Vegas-based Allegiant will open service from the South Carolina capital on May 15 with flights to Orlando Sanford Airport (SFB). From May 22, Allegiant will start flying between CAE and Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport (FLL).
Spirit will begin 3X-weekly service between CAE and its FLL base from June 6, directly competing against Allegiant. American operates between CAE and Miami International Airport, located around 25 mi. south of FLL, on a seasonal basis.
From June 5, Spirit will open 3X-weekly service between CAE and Orlando International Airport (MCO), located about 30 mi. south of SFB, the secondary airport dominated by Allegiant.
Spirit, an all-Airbus A320-family aircraft operator, will also on June 5 launch 4X-weekly service between CAE and Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR) in New Jersey, a route not operated by any airline.
Columbia will become the third South Carolina city served by Spirit, which already operates to Charleston and Myrtle Beach.
On June 4 and 5, Spirit will open service from Chattanooga to EWR (4X-weekly), FLL (3X-weekly) and MCO (4X-weekly). All three routes will be exclusive to Spirit.
CHA CEO April Cameron said the three destinations were “highly sought after” by the airport. Allegiant, American, Delta and United all serve CHA.
CAE (1.4 million passengers) and CHA (556,958 passengers) both set annual passenger records in 2024.
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