Spirit makes Inaugural Flight to Jamaica

Spirit Airlines commenced service to Jamaica on Thursday (Nov.10) with flights arriving at the island’s main airports – Norman Manley International in Kingston and Sangster International in Montego Bay.
It was the very first time in the airline’s history that flights were inaugurated at two destinations in the same country on the same day.
At a press conference held at Norman Manley shortly after the 198-seat Airbus A321, emblazoned with ‘The Spirit of Jamaica’ slogan taxied onto the runway, Spirit Airlines’ Vice- President of Sales and Distribution, Marc Cavaliere, said that the feat was a culmination of “many months of partnership and mutual work,” and represented a proclamation of the airline’s “excitement and belief in Jamaica.”
“Not only are we serving the two cities in Jamaica but we are doing so with three daily flights, including non-stop service from Orlando as well as Fort Lauderdale,” he announced.
The Vice President said that by coming to Jamaica, the airline would not only enhance the island’s revenue earning potential through an increase in tourist arrivals, but it would also encourage Jamaicans to travel more.
“We come to provide low fare, high-value, high reliability service to the residents of Jamaica.those who want to more frequently, and more economically travel to various points within the United States,” he said.
“Our daily flights will offer convenient service to 12 cities in the US, so, doing business in the United States, visiting friends and relatives, shopping.whatever the purpose, getting there has just gotten a lot less expensive,” Mr. Cavaliere declared.
He also pointed out that Spirit’s presence in the Jamaican market was positively affecting the aviation sector. “With our low fares and great service, more people can afford to come to Jamaica and they are already calling to make plans. Our travel agency partners here and in the United States are already enjoying unprecedented volumes of calls. We’ve all begun to see the airfares dropping across the board.
This is what we call the Spirit effect,” he said.Adding that while the airline will not be able to promise “ridiculously low” fares at all times, he said it would continually deliver “everyday low fares, reliable service and value that customers can count on.”
Minister of Transport and Works, Robert Pickersgill, who was the guest speaker at the function, welcomed Spirit Airlines to Jamaica, and noted that the introduction of the carrier into the Jamaican market came at a time when the island’s airports and other gateway facilities, as well as the tourism infrastructure, were undergoing major expansion and development.
“The government of Jamaica, through the Airports Authority of Jamaica, has been facilitating a comprehensive development plan at both international airports.the development at both airports at this time attests to the potential and viability of the Jamaican travel market and no doubt played a role in encouraging Spirit Airlines to commit to this new service into Jamaica,” the Minister said.
Continuing, Minister Pickersgill pointed out that “the advent of Spirit will prove a shot in the arm for travellers, the (the travel) industry and the Jamaican economy.”
Camille Needham, Executive Director of the Jamaica Hotel and Tourist Association (JHTA), also welcomed the airline, which she gladly noted was offering the “unbeatable combination of low fares with caring and reliable service.”
“At a time in Jamaica when we are offering more hotel rooms to our North American and other international visitors, your advent is especially welcome, and for us in tourism, it represents an opportunity for Jamaican tourism to expand its reach into the various markets, not only because of the variety of gateways that you fly into and out of, but also because these are popular gateways from which we anticipate that Jamaica’s tourism can experience significant growth,” she noted.
Also on hand to welcome the airline were Councillor Lee Clarke, Deputy Mayor of Kingston; Dennis Morrison, Chairman of the Airports Authority of Jamaica and Earl Richards, Chief Executive Officer of Norman Manley International Airports Limited.
Meanwhile, for many of the passengers who disembarked from the inaugural flight into Kingston’s Norman Manley International Airport, the trip was smooth and comfortable and service, excellent.
Spirit Airlines is the largest privately-held airline in the United States, which provides service to 20 cities including Atlantic City, New Jersey; Cancun, Mexico; Chicago/O’hare; Detroit; Las Vegas; Los Angeles; Myrtle Beach, South Carolina; Nassau, Bahamas; New York/La Guardia; Providence/Boston, New England; San Juan, Puerto Rico; Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic; Washington, D.C./Reagan National; and the Florida cities of Fort Lauderdale, Tampa, Orlando and Fort Myers.