29882: Hermantin(News)Spirit Planning Daily nonstop flights to Haiti (fwd)

[Bob Corbett <corbetre@webster.edu>]

From: leonie hermantin <lhermantin@hotmail.com>

Spirit planning daily nonstop flights to Haiti



By Glenn Singer
South Florida Sun-Sentinel

January 19, 2007



Spirit Airlines plans to start nonstop flights to Port-au-Prince, Haiti, on 
March 22, subject to Haitian government approval, a spokeswoman for the 
Miramar-based carrier said Thursday.

"We expect to begin with three flights a week, on Monday, Thursday and 
Saturday, and increase to daily service on May 1," Spirit's Rebecca Rivera 
said.

Introductory fares would be as low as 5 cents each way plus fees and taxes, she 
said.

The promotional fares are good only though 11:59 p.m. today and must be 
purchased on the Internet at www.spiritair.com.

The airline would not say how many discounted seats are available on each 
flight.

Spirit is banking on strong business from many of the 240,000 Haitians who live 
in South Florida and might be attracted by low fares to visit relatives in 
their homeland.

Likewise, residents of Haiti might find it more affordable to visit relatives 
in the United States.

A typical round-trip fare between Fort Lauderdale and Port-au-Prince would cost 
about $270 on Spirit compared with about $371 on American Airlines, including 
all taxes and fees, according to the two companies' Web sites.

But for Spirit departures from Fort Lauderdale on March 22 and April 16 and 19 
and flights from Haiti on March 22, 24 and 29, the fare would be as low as 5 
cents each way.

With taxes and fees added, the round trip would cost $82.20.

Spirit also is offering $36 one-way fares from Fort Lauderdale on April 7, 9 
and 12 and from Port-au-Prince on May 1, 2 and 3.

With taxes and fees added, the round trip would cost $154.20.

It could be possible, too, to mix a 5-cent fare going in one direction with a 
$36 fare in the other direction, or combining a promotional fare in one 
direction with a full fare in the other, Rivera said.
Copyright © 2007, South Florida Sun-Sentinel

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