By the Caribbean Journal staff

Low-cost carrier Spirit continues to ramp up what has been a rapid expansion to the Caribbean this summer.

The carrier has announced the addition of two major new routes: daily nonstop service from Newark Liberty International Airport to Santo Domingo in the Dominican Republic, along with three-times-weekly service between Detroit and Montego Bay, Jamaica.

The new Dominican Republic flights will launch Nov. 8, while the new Jamaica flights will launch operations on Dec. 20.

“We are so excited to offer both the Newark and Detroit areas low fares to some of the most wonderful countries in the world,” said Mark Kopczak, Spirit Airlines’ Vice President of Network Planning.  “Both Jamaica and the Dominican Republic are known for their hospitality and beauty and are incredible options for winter vacations or family reunions.  Spirit continues to prove itself as a go-to airline for quality affordable service to the Caribbean and Latin America.”

Santo Domingo has become one of the Caribbean’s new hotspots for adventurous travelers.

The new flights are a boost for Santo Domingo, which is seeing its already-strong airlift continue to grow; in May, JetBlue also launched the same daily Newark-Santo Domingo service.

It’s also yet another expansion for Spirit in the Caribbean following a significant announcement just last month of a wave of new nonstop flights to the Caribbean out of Orlando.

Montego Bay.

Also this year, Spirit has also added new nonstop flights from Fort Lauderdale to Cap-Haitien; launched daily nonstop flights from Fort Lauderdale to St Thomas and added daily flights from Baltimore/Washington to Montego Bay, among other new frequencies.

It’s made the carrier one of the fastest-growing airlines in the Caribbean region, putting itself in direct competition on a number of routes with both Southwest Airlines and JetBlue, both of which have significantly strengthened their Caribbean networks out of Fort Lauderdale in particular. 

— CJ