KINGSTON, Jamaica — Spirit Airlines has launched non-stop flights from Orlando, Florida to the Norman Manley International Airport (NMIA) in Kingston and the Sangster International Airport in Monetgo Bay, St James.

According to a statement from NMIA, the new routes, which began Thursday and Friday (March 1), respectively, are part of the airline’s efforts to increase international and domestic service from Orlando International Airport.

“We are pleased to bring the best value in the sky with more flights from Orlando International Airport with nonstop service to the beautiful island of Jamaica,” John Kirby, Spirit Airlines’ Vice President of Network Planning, was quoted as saying.

“With the most nonstop destinations from Orlando to the Caribbean and Latin America, Spirit enables Guests to experience incredible beaches, culture, hospitality and the opportunity to visit family and friends.”

For his part, Phil Brown, Chief Executive Officer of the Greater Orlando Aviation Authority said: “Spirit’s decision to serve Kingston, Jamaica from Orlando International Airport presents year-round travel opportunities between these two great destinations for the first time in over a decade”.

“Spirit’s continued support of this market with additions like Montego Bay, Denver and Kingston has helped make them our fastest growing airline,” he was further quoted.

Francine Carter Henry, Manager of Tour Operators of Jamaica Tourist Board welcomed the addition of the new flights to the island.

“We are constantly looking to expand gateways serving the destination and Spirit Airlines provide very good options to support a constantly growing appetite for travel from the USA to both Kingston and Montego Bay airports,” she said.

Orlando to/from:

•   Austin, Texas (AUS), starts February 14, 2019, daily, year-round

•   Denver, Colorado (DEN), starts February 28, 2019, daily

•   Montego Bay, Jamaica (MBJ), starts February 28, 2019, four times weekly

•   Kingston, Jamaica (KIN), starts March 1, 2019, three times weekly

•   Indianapolis, Indiana (IND), starts March 14, 2019, daily, year-round

•   Raleigh-Durham, North Carolina (RDU), starts May 2, 2019, daily, year-round

•   Charlotte, North Carolina (CLT), starts June 20, 2019, Daily

In addition to Spirit’s network growth, Orlando recently became the home to a new Spirit Airlines crew base. Since December of 2018, more than 300 flight attendants and pilots joined Spirit’s Orlando team, with hundreds more crew and airport jobs expected by this summer, the statement said.

In 2019, Spirit Airlines will operate more than 50 departures per day from Orlando International Airport, which is nearly a 100 per cent increase from only two years ago.

Spirit will now offer the Orlando area nonstop service to 44 destinations with over 50 daily flights across the US, Caribbean and Latin America.