note
Spirit can trace its roots to Clipper Trucking Company, which changed its name to Ground Air Transfer Inc. in 1974. In 1983 company founder Ned Homfeld started a tour operator Charter One. He sold tour packages to Atlantic City, Las Vegas, and the Bahamas focusing on gambling tourism. In 1990, it acquired a Convair 580 to operate Atlantic City charters. It briefly operated the Boston-Atlantic City flights for Trump Airlines. In May 1992 it receive its first DC-9 and changed its name to Spirit Airlines. In 1993 flights were added from Atlantic City and Detroit to Florida. Philadelphia flights were added in 1994. Spirit's routes were confined to the east coast and the Caribbean, except for Detroit-San Francisco service which was added in 2003. In July 2006, the airline was acquired by Indigo Partners which ordered 30 A320s. In March 2007, Spirit began its transition to an "ultra low cost carrier". and began an expansion which would include much of the US as well as the Caribbean and Central America. Spirit went public in 2011, and Indigo sold its interest in 2012.
founded - demised (age)
1983 - present (42years)
headquarters
2800 Executive Way, Miramar, FL
web
base airports
related operators
current /stored fleet (211)
