Heading to Key West but don't want to drive? Spirit starting FLL flights
The Broward-based airline known for bright yellow planes will offer year-round flights between Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport and Key West International Airport for the first time.
On Nov. 6, Spirit will launch four weekly flights, on Monday, Thursday, Friday and Sunday. Daily flights will begin on Dec. 18.
Fares start at $79 one-way for trips booked by Nov. 19. Tickets are now available on the airline's website.
Spirit is betting on a route that brings together two of the Sunshine State's most popular locales.
Fort Lauderdale boasts popular beaches, a renovated pier, growing airport, booming port and influx of youth.
The Florida Keys continue to see sky-high demand from tourists all over the world. While Miami — the city and its hotels — was shut out of the 2025 World's Best issue of Travel + Leisure, the Florida Keys ranked eighth among best islands in the continental United States.
'Spirit Airlines entering the Key West market this November is fantastic news for our passengers near and far,' Richard Strickland, executive director of airports at Key West International Airport, said in a statement. 'We welcome this addition to our selection of carriers and greatly anticipate access to Spirit's expansive network of destinations.'
Key West will be the eighth destination in Florida that Spirit serves. Fort Myers, Miami, Orlando, Pensacola, Tampa and West Palm Beach are the others, along with Fort Lauderdale.
The $79 one-way fares are subject to a 21-day advance purchase, valid for booking July 22 through Nov. 19, 2025, and travel from Nov. 6 through Dec. 17, 2025, the airline said. Blackout dates are Nov. 20 to Dec. 2, 2025.
The Key West service comes after Spirit announced in July new direct flights between FLL and Macon, Georgia. The airline will have two flights a week beginning Oct. 16, starting at $49.99 one way. Macon is home to the Allman Brothers and Luther Williams Field, the baseball stadium used in '42,' the film about Jackie Robinson's life.
A new Spirit Airlines?
Beyond tourist attractions, the new flights will also give travelers an early glimpse of the new, slightly more upscale Spirit. In June, the airline started installing a section of seats — seven rows near the front — that have four additional inches of legroom, a total to 32 inches. The majority of its fleet is expected to have this feature by the end of July and all planes will in 2026. Spirit is also getting rid of its middle seats in the premium section.
Flights in July are the first ones that offer the new perks.
The moves come as Spirit is looking to carve out a market segment in a competitive market following several tough years. It's now taking on the bigger players with its premium offerings.
In April, a new president and CEO, Dave Davis, took over. He replaced longtime President and CEO Ted Christie, who resigned April 7 after successfully leading the company through restructuring. On Feb. 20, the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of New York approved the carrier's plan to continue operating as a business, and cleared bankruptcy shortly after.
Davis came from Sun Country Airlines, where he was president and chief financial officer and a member of its board of directors since December 2019. He was credited with helping make it one of the most profitable airlines in the U.S., outperforming Spirit and Frontier.
Can new cabin names help?
Travelers to Key West will also get a chance to try out Spirit's new cabin names that debuted in June:
Spirit First (formerly Go Big)
▪ Big front seat/extra legroom
▪ Carry-on and first checked bag free
▪ No change or cancel fees
▪ Priority check-in and boarding
▪ Reserved overhead bin space
▪ Complimentary snacks and drinks
▪ Wi-Fi
Premium Economy (formerly Go Comfy)
▪ Extra legroom
▪ No middle seat
▪ One carry-on bag free
▪ No change or cancel fees
▪ Priority boarding
▪ Reserved overhead bin space
Value (formerly Go)
▪ One carry-on bag free
▪ Seat selection costs extra
▪ Checked bags purchased separately
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