USA: Spirit Airlines Started Major International Routes

From a tranquil rain forest, to a bustling metropolis, to the crystal waters of the Caribbean, the options for exotic culture and cuisine are endless as Spirit Airlines grows immensely in Orlando.

In an unprecedented expansion, starting October 4, 2018, Spirit will begin offering international service from Orlando International Airport (MCO) to 11 new destinations in Latin America and the Caribbean, as well as 3 more domestic routes rolling out through the fall.

The announcement marks one of the largest expansions in the airline’s history and includes service to the U.S. territories of Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands.

With this announcement, Spirit will now provide additional service from Orlando to eight countries and two U.S. territories.

It comes just days after the airline announced new routes from Orlando to Asheville and Greensboro, North Carolina, as well as Myrtle Beach, South Carolina.

Spirit will now provide the Orlando region with nonstop service to and from 38 destinations, with up to 49 daily flights across the U.S., the Caribbean, and Latin America.

We have been proud to serve Orlando for 25 years, and after more than doubling service last year, we are so proud to be expanding there yet again, said Bob Fornaro, Spirit’s Chief Executive Officer.

Orlando is now one of our largest markets, and we have no plans on stopping our growth. The region is not only a wonderful, family-friendly destination, but it is well-positioned to now serve as a gateway to the Carribean and Latin America.

Spirit Airlines has a long history here at Orlando International Airport, and today’s announced plans for more investment into this market are a direct reflection of that long-time business partnership, said Stan Thornton, Chief Operating Officer of the Greater Orlando Aviation Authority.

Orlando to/from Starts: Frequency:

- Aguadilla, Puerto Rico (BQN) October 4 Daily

- Guatemala City, Guatemala (GUA)* October 4 4x weekly

- Panama City, Panama (PTY)* October 4 4x weekly

- Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic (SDQ)* October 4 4x weekly until Nov. 7

Daily from Nov. 8

- San Pedro Sula, Honduras (SAP)* October 5 2x weekly

- San José, Costa Rica (SJO)* October 5 4x weekly until Nov. 7

- San Salvador, El Salvador (SAL)* October 6 2x weekly

- Bogota, Colombia (BOG)*ǂ November 8 Daily

- St. Thomas, USVI (STT) November 8 3x weekly

- Medellin, Colombia (MDE)* November 9 2x weekly

- Cartagena, Colombia (CTG)* November 10 2x weekly

- Asheville, North Carolina (AVL) September 7 3x weekly until Nov. 7

4x weekly from Nov. 8

- Greensboro, North Carolina (GSO) September 7 3x weekly until Nov. 7

4x weekly from Nov. 8

- Myrtle Beach, South Carolina (MYR) November 10 2x weekly

Subject to government approval.

- Based on data from the Department of Transportation and verified by an independent service.

- Sales of nonstop flights between Orlando and Bogota will commence at a date to be announced in the near future.


Tourism Observer

FRANCE: Air France To Make 3 Weekly Flights To Costa Rica

Air France will offer from this winter one additional flight to San José, Costa Rica on departure from Paris-Charles de Gaulle.

A service connecting San José on departure from Paris-Charles de Gaulle will also be available to customers for the first time during the summer season as from 1st April 2018.

With Air France’s increased frequencies between Paris-Charles de Gaulle and San José by Boeing 777-300 (468 seats), Air France will offer 2,808 seats per week this winter thanks to 3 weekly services.

Flight times operated (in local time) during the 2017-18 winter season -

AF430 : leaves Paris-Charles de Gaulle at 13:25, arrives in San José at 17:55;

AF431 : leaves San José at 20:15, arrives at Paris-Charles de Gaulle at 13:30 the next day.

Flights operated on Mondays, Thursdays and Saturdays on departure from Paris.

Year-round service to San José

Air France will pursue this dynamic after winter by offering the Paris-Charles de Gaulle – San José service for the first time during the summer season with 2 weekly flights operated by Boeing 777-200 (312 seats) as from April 1, 2018.

Flight times operated (in local time) as from April 1, 2018

AF430 : leaves Paris-Charles de Gaulle at 13:10, arrives in San José at 16:50;

AF431 : leaves San José at 19:10, arrives at Paris-Charles de Gaulle at 13:45 the next day.

Flights operated on Wednesdays and Sundays.

Additionally, Air France customers will be able to reach San José with 2 daily flights in summer and winter operated by Copa Air Lines, as a continuation of the services connecting Paris-Charles de Gaulle to Panama City operated by Air France.

Passengers thus benefit from a single ticket for their entire trip, a wider choice of flights to Costa Rica, baggage transfer to their final destination and the possibility to earn Miles on all code-shared flights.

A leader in Central and South America and the Caribbean in terms of seat capacity, Air France-KLM serves 25 destinations in this region and offers up to 260 weekly flights on departure from Paris-Charles de Gaulle and Amsterdam-Schiphol.

USA: Alaska Airlines Flys To Costa Rica

New route celebrations were held at both ends of Alaska Airlines’ new route from Los Angeles to San José in Costa Rica. This four times weekly service was started the day before another destination in the country, namely Liberia, was served and again operated from the Californian airport.

Alaska Airlines started its first flights into Costa Rica, with four times weekly services from Los Angeles (LAX) to both Liberia (LIR) and San José (SJO). The former 4,228-kilometre sector began on 1 November, while 4,379-kilometre services to the Costa Rican capital began the day before.

Delta Air Lines is the incumbent on both sectors, flying daily to San José and thrice-weekly to Liberia from the Californian airport. Both routes are operated by the airline’s 737-700 fleet.

“As the most popular Central American tourist destination for US travellers, Costa Rica is one of the best places in the Western Hemisphere for adventure tourism,” said John Kirby, Alaska Airlines’ VP of Capacity Planning.

“With the addition of Costa Rica, Alaska offers up to 80 peak season weekly departures from Southern California to Latin America, more than any other airline.” Vote for Los Angeles Airport’s route launch cake.