This spring, Spirit Airlines will start nonstop flights between Pittsburgh and Myrtle Beach.
In time for spring break, the airline will begin flying from Pittsburgh International Airport to Myrtle Beach International Airport on Thursday, March 21.
As a result of the new route, Spirit now offers nine nonstop destinations from the Pittsburgh airport.
On April 10, the airline will resume nonstop flights to Myrtle Beach from Arnold Palmer Regional Airport.
ABOUT SPIRIT AIRLINES
Spirit Airlines was founded in 1983 as Charter One, a Detroit-based charter tour operator. The airline initially operated charter flights to Atlantic City and the Bahamas using a fleet of DC-9 jets. In 1990, the company changed its name to Spirit Airlines and began operating scheduled flights under the leadership of Ned Homfeld. In the early years, Spirit Airlines struggled financially and underwent multiple ownership changes. However, in 1999, former America West executive Bob Fornaro became CEO and initiated major changes that led to profitability for the airline. Under Fornaro’s leadership, Spirit shifted its focus from leisure destinations to more business-oriented routes such as New York City and Chicago.
In addition to changing their route strategy, Spirit also made significant changes to their operations by switching from Boeing 737s to Airbus A320s. This move proved successful as it allowed for increased efficiency and cost savings. In 2006, Indigo Partners LLC purchased a majority stake in the airline and brought on Ben Baldanza as CEO.
During his tenure, Baldanza focused on transforming Spirit into an ultra-low-cost carrier (ULCC) model similar to European airlines Ryanair or easyJet. This meant offering customers extremely low base fares while charging for additional services such as baggage fees and seat selection.
Under this new model, Spirit experienced rapid growth and expanded its route network significantly. They also introduced their signature bright yellow livery on their planes along with catchy slogans like “Less Money, More Go.”
This branding further solidified their reputation as a budget-friendly airline. However, this growth also came with some challenges for Spirit. In 2010, they faced a widespread pilot strike which led to flight cancellations and significant disruptions for customers. Despite this setback, the airline continued its expansion plans with new routes added throughout North America including Mexico and Latin America. In recent years, current CEO Ted Christie has placed a strong emphasis on improving the airline’s customer service and overall reputation. This includes investing in new aircraft, upgrading their website and mobile app, and implementing a revamped loyalty program.
Today, Spirit Airlines operates over 500 daily flights to more than 70 destinations in the United States, Latin America, and the Caribbean. They continue to offer affordable fares while also expanding their services to include new routes and upgraded amenities for passengers.
Look for nonstop flights between Pittsburgh and Myrtle Beach this Spring.