It’s long been Puerto Rico’s “Second City,” but the southern city of Ponce is starting to see a wave of new interest from travelers. 

Now, low-cost carrier Spirit Airlines is launching a new nonstop route to Ponce, part of what local tourism officials hope is a continued surge in demand for the destination. 

Beginning in February, Spirit will operate a new nonstop route from Orlando to Ponce, the carrier announced this week. 

The new route will operate daily, with flights kicking off on Feb. 16, 2022. 

“Adding Ponce as our third market in Puerto Rico is a fantastic way to celebrate 20 years of Spirit serving the island,” said John Kirby, Spirit’s Vice President of Network Planning. “Our new nonstop flights to Orlando provide connectivity to many high-value travel options for flying in or out of Ponce.”

The new route complements Spirit’s existing to service to both San Juan and the western city of Aguadilla. 

Spirit has been flying to Puerto Rico since 2001. 

As reported by Caribbean Journal Invest, Ponce has been seeing a surge in interest from hotel developers, buoyed by Puerto Rico’s tax incentives for investors.

Ponce is home to what has long been the leading art museum in the Caribbean, the Museo de Arte de Ponce, and is the site of a proposed “mega project” that would turn the city into a new global wellness and tourism destination.

“Our Island continues promoting its great potential with the announcement of this new non-stop flight between Orlando and Ponce, a route that will increase flight availability for our people as well as those who visit us,” said Puerto Rico Governor Pedro Pierluisi. “The economic development of Ponce and the southern region is a priority for my administration, and we will continue seeking alliances beneficial to our economy such as this one.”

— CJ