By the Caribbean Journal staff

Low-cost carrier Spirit Airlines is planning a big expansion to the Caribbean island of Jamaica, Caribbean Journal has learned.

The carrier, which has been significantly ramping up its flight network in the Caribbean, will be adding new routes to both Kingston and Montego Bay out of Orlando.

Beginning Feb. 28, 2019, Spirit will launch nonstop flights from Orlando to Montego Bay. On March 1, Spirit will launch nonstop flights from Orlando to Kingston.

The Montego Bay flights will operate four times each week, while the Kingston flights will run three times per week.

The flights are part of Spirit’s “largest-ever expansion,” said Bob Fornaro, chief executive officer at Spirit.

“The new routes to Jamaica will cap off our largest-ever expansion, and we’ve seen a wonderful response from both our guests and Spirit team members,” Fornaro said.

Spirit’s expansion in Orlando will rise to 39 destinations, with up to 50 flights every day to the U.S., the Caribbean and Latin America.

The flights also represent continued airlift growth for Jamaica, which has been seeing increased interest from North American carriers including Delta and WestJet’s new low-cost outfit, Swoop.

Much of that interest has centered on the burgeoning destination of Kingston, which is attracting new hotel brands like AC Marriott (a project being undertaken in partnership with Sandals) and is part of a wider push to grow urban tourism in Jamaica.

— CJ