Spirit Airlines has launched its first-ever Caribbean flights from Miami International Airport. 

The low-cost carrier kicked off its new slots in Miami with a pair of new Caribbean routes: nonstop service to both Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic and Port-au-Prince in Haiti. 

The Port-au-Prince flights are operating four times each week, while Santo Domingo service is operating thrice weekly. 

Spirit plans to add more flights from Miami to the Caribbean in the next few months, including daily service to Barranquilla, Colombia beginning on Nov. 17 and daily service to San Juan, Puerto Rico, also on Nov. 17. 

“We want our Free Spirit Loyalty winners to be able to choose their own destinations because flexibility is what we’re providing in Miami—multiple daily flights that go all over the U.S. and stretch into South America. Combined with our flights from West Palm Beach and our position as the largest carrier in Fort Lauderdale, we’re giving our Guests more options in South Florida than ever,” said Ted Christie, President and CEO of Spirit Airlines. 

In January, Spirit will add another new route from Miami to the region, with thrice weekly flights to St Thomas in the United States Virgin Islands. 

“Spirit Airlines is America’s only major airline headquartered in South Florida, and welcoming them to our airport is extremely special,” said Miami-Dade County Mayor Daniella Levine Cava. “We proudly welcome the significant investment of flights, jobs and business revenue that Spirit is bringing to MIA and to Miami-Dade County, and we are excited to see the company grow as they offer more travel options to our residents and visitors.”

Spirit’s entry come as another fast-growing, low-cost carrier, Frontier Airlines, also recently launched a major Caribbean expansion out of Miami. 

It’s also a notable addition for Santo Domingo, which has been one of the fastest-growing destinations in the Caribbean as the Dominican Republic looks to position its capital as a tourism destination. 

— CJ