Travelin' Man

Now all we need is Southwest and we got all domestic carriers. Next airlines we would like to see - Air France, KLM, Swiss, and Virgin Atlantic! Will not happen anytime soon though.



Spirit Airlines will begin serving Denver International Airport on May 9 with flights to Detroit, Fort Lauderdale, Fla., and New York, the discount carrier said Wednesday.
Spirit will offer two daily, nonstop flights to Detroit and one daily, nonstop flight to Fort Lauderdale on MD-80 jets.

Fort Lauderdale-based Spirit also will offer a daily flight to New York's LaGuardia Airport that will make a stop in Detroit.

The 11-year-old carrier, which bills itself as "the low-fare specialist," will offer introductory round-trip fares of $178 to Detroit and $198 to both Fort Lauderdale and New York. The fares must be purchased by Feb. 21 and are good between May 9 and June 13.

Spirit is the second airline in the last month to announce that it's launching service at DIA, which experienced a steep decline in passenger traffic after the Sept. 11 attacks. Alaska Air Group Inc. plans to start service April 28 to Seattle, Portland, Ore., and Boise, Idaho, on twin carriers Alaska Airlines and Horizon Air.

Privately held Spirit, which will operate at gate 49 on DIA's Concourse C, serves 14 destinations from its hub in Fort Lauderdale. Bookings with the airline require no minimum stay and no advance purchase.

Founder and Chairman Ned Homfeld said Spirit is "extremely proud" to encourage tourism between Denver and the Midwest through the Detroit-Denver flights.

DIA officials began talking to Homfeld about the possibility of Spirit serving DIA in 1999, said Amy Bourgeron, deputy manager of aviation.