Posted on Oct 31, 2010 - 11:01 PM

Spirit Airlines Announces Next Phase of Myrtle Beach Expansion

Spirit Airlines is introducing the next phase of the ultra low cost carrier’s expansion in the Grand Strand as it announced last week non-stop service to five new cities from Myrtle Beach. Effective May 5, 2011, Spirit will begin seasonal service to the following new markets:

Washington, DC Reagan National Airport – daily non-stop service to our Capital’s close-in airport.
Plattsburgh, NY – four times per week. Located in the Adirondack Mountains of upstate New York on the shores of Lake Champlain, Plattsburgh is centrally positioned near Albany, New York; Burlington, Vermont; and Montreal, Canada.
Niagara Falls, NY (near Buffalo, New York and Toronto, Canada) – three times per week. In addition to Niagara Falls being a tourist destination in itself, the Niagara Falls International Airport is also conveniently located near Buffalo, New York, and just across the border from Toronto, Canada.
Latrobe, PA – four times per week. Located in southwestern Pennsylvania near Pittsburgh.
Charleston, WV – three times per week. State Capital serving all of West Virginia.

“It’s extremely exciting for us to have Spirit continue to invest in Myrtle Beach with these additional non-stop destinations,” said Michael La Pier, A.A.E., Director of Airports, Myrtle Beach International Airport. “This commitment is indicative of Myrtle Beach’s position as a world-class, value-driven destination with great appeal for airlines and visitors alike. Our community has worked extremely hard to increase air service and we are particularly excited to see daily service to Washington, D.C. via Reagan National. This will be a great benefit to our residents as well as provide more opportunity for increased tourism.”

“The availability of affordable transportation into the Myrtle Beach area is crucial to building our tourism economy and greatly enhances our ability to market in challenging economic times,” said Brad Dean, President and CEO of the Myrtle Beach Area Chamber of Commerce/CVB. “We’re very pleased to see Spirit Airlines expand non-stop air service into Myrtle Beach International Airport while continuing to provide our visitors and residents with low fare options.”

“Spirit’s decision to add service to five new markets, including the nation’s capital, is a testament to the appeal of Myrtle Beach, and the success we’ve had partnering with Spirit in the past,” said Bill Golden, President of Myrtle Beach Golf Holiday. “With daily service out of Washington, D.C., there will be daily, non-stop flights to Myrtle Beach from every major city in the Northeast. We look forward to a record number of golf bags coming through Myrtle Beach International Airport next year.”

Spirit started regular scheduled service in Myrtle Beach in 1996 and currently offers on average 11 daily non-stop flights from Myrtle Beach to seven major destinations during the May through August season, including: Atlanta, Atlantic City, Boston, Chicago O’Hare, Detroit, New York LaGuardia and Fort Lauderdale, as well as connections to 25 additional cities in the U.S., Caribbean and Latin America.

Schedule for Spirit’s Myrtle Beach (MYR) – Washington, DC (DCA) seasonal service effective May 5, 2011: