While initially launched out of Michigan’s Macomb County in 1983, Spirit Airlines (SAVE) moved its headquarters to Florida in 1999 and has since made the Sunshine State into its largest market.
As of July 2025, the low-cost airline flies into seven destinations across the state. These include major cities like Miami and Orlando as well as smaller destinations such as Pensacola and West Palm Beach. In the past, Spirit also ran flights to Jacksonville and Melbourne on the Atlantic Coast.
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In November 2025, this number will be rounded out to eight Florida destinations as Spirit just announced the launch of a new Key West route — the flight between Fort Lauderdale and the southernmost city in both Florida and the contiguous United States is set to launch on Nov. 6.
‘A convenient alternative to driving’: Spirit Airlines
Initially slated to run four times a week on Mondays, Thursdays, Fridays, and Sundays, the flight to Key West International Airport (EYW) will be upped to daily by Dec. 18.
“Key West is a one-of-a-kind beach destination, and now travelers can easily access this island paradise and enjoy Spirit’s elevated Guest experience along the way,” said Spirit Vice President of Network Planning John Kirby in a statement. “Our new service offers a convenient and affordable alternative to driving and gives our Guests in the Florida Keys a new way to coast through South Florida in style.”
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To promote the new route, Spirit will sell flights at an introductory rate of $79 in each direction for travel until Dec. 17. The airline also said that it’s aiming to connect Key West to larger cities such as Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, and Houston, from which travelers can make the transfer in Fort Lauderdale.
Key West is the southernmost city both in Florida and the contiguous United States.
Image source: Shutterstock
‘We welcome this addition to our selection of carriers’
At just over 55 minutes, the route would be Spirit’s shortest yet — the flight it pushes out, between Fort Lauderdale and Orlando International Airport (MCO), spans 178 miles and takes a total of 65 minutes. That said, the flight will still be a godsend to those who want to avoid the four-hour drive from Fort Lauderdale.
Due to its distance from the rest of Florida (Miami is a 129-mile drive crossing multiple bridges), many often get to Key West either by cruise or private ship. Those who fly in will typically embark on a wider tour of the Caribbean, although the city and namesake island has also become an increasingly popular standalone destination in recent years.
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“We welcome this addition to our selection of carriers and greatly anticipate access to Spirit’s expansive network of destinations,” Key West International Airport’s Executive Director of Airports Richard Strickland said in a separate statement.
Due to its heavy presence in the state, it is rare for Spirit to announce a new Florida destination. In June 2025, the airline revealed plans for new flights between Detroit and California’s Orange County, between Reno and San Diego, and from Atlantic City to Miami. thse flights are all set to launch in August.
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