PERMANENT CEASEFIRE. 608 IS YOUR TIME ON THIS TUESDAY MORNING AND THIS WEEK, SPIRIT AIRLINES WILL FLY ITS LAST FLIGHT OUT OF BIRMINGHAM. THE AIRLINE PULLED FROM SEVERAL AIRPORTS, INCLUDING OURS, AFTER FILING FOR BANKRUPTCY IN AUGUST. THE AIRPORT IS WHERE WE FIND WVTM 13 S MYA CALEB AND THE AIRPORT AND TRAVELERS FEELING THE IMPACT OF THIS DEPARTURE. MYA. GOOD MORNING GUYS. YEAH, IT’S A TOUGH SITUATION FOR TRAVELERS. AFTER FRIDAY, YOU WON’T SEE THEM ROLLING THEIR LUGGAGE THROUGH THIS CHECK IN POINT ANYMORE, AND THE AIRPORT IS GOING TO FEEL SOME IMPACT BY THIS, BUT NOT NEARLY AS MUCH AS THE TRAVELERS WILL. EVEN WITH AN ENTIRE AIRLINE STOPPING ITS SERVICES, BIRMINGHAM-SHUTTLESWORTH IS ONLY LOSING ONE DIRECT FLIGHT IN THIS PROCESS. THAT’S THE FLIGHT TO FORT LAUDERDALE. SPIRIT ALSO OFFERED DIRECT FLIGHTS TO NEWARK IN DETROIT, BUT OTHER AIRLINES CAN ACCOMMODATE FOR THIS. CUSTOMER WISE, THOUGH, THIS STILL CAUSES A STRAIN. I SPOKE WITH THE TRAVELER FROM NEWARK THAT CAME TO VISIT HER FAMILY HERE MONTHLY OR EVERY OTHER MONTH, AND HERE’S WHAT SHE SAID. I’M A LITTLE SAD THAT SPIRIT IS LEAVING BECAUSE I’VE LIVE IN NEWARK AND ALL MY FAMILY IS IN BIRMINGHAM, SO THIS SUMMER IT WAS SO EASY FOR ME TO VISIT MY FAMILY TWO AND THREE TIMES BECAUSE SPIRIT’S HERE AND IT’S A NONSTOP FLIGHT AND THE PRICE IS, IS REAL REASONABLE. NOW, THERE IS STILL A LOT OF GROWTH HAPPENING RIGHT HERE AT THE BIRMINGHAM-SHUTTLESWORTH AIRPORT WHEN IT COMES TO SOUTHWEST AIRLINES. THEY’RE GOING TO BE ADDING A SECOND DAILY FLIGHT TO DENVER AND NASHVILLE, AND A THIRD DAILY FLIGHT DURING THE WEEK TO ORLANDO. LI
‘Unfortunately, they had to make a business decision’: Spirit Airlines departure impacts Birmingham travelers
Spirit Airlines will stop its services at Birmingham-Shuttlesworth International Airport starting Friday, affecting travelers who rely on its direct flights to Fort Lauderdale, although other airlines will cover routes to Newark and Detroit.”I’m a little sad that Spirit is leaving because I live in Newark and all my family is in, Birmingham. So, this summer, it was so easy for me to visit my family two and three times because it’s here and it’s a nonstop flight and the prices is real reasonable,” said Janice Toney-Croskey, a traveler from Newark who’s originally from Birmingham.Despite the changes, Birmingham-Shuttlesworth is experiencing growth, with Southwest Airlines adding a second daily flight to Denver and Nashville and a third weekday flight to Orlando.Spirit Airlines filed for bankruptcy in August, leading to a restructuring that included the decision to leave Birmingham-Shuttlesworth. “So unfortunately, they had to make a business decision. The good news for us is that we continue to grow here. When Spirit leaves, we really will only lose one nonstop destination, and that’s Fort Lauderdale,” said Kim Hunt, vice president of communications at the airport.
Spirit Airlines will stop its services at Birmingham-Shuttlesworth International Airport starting Friday, affecting travelers who rely on its direct flights to Fort Lauderdale, although other airlines will cover routes to Newark and Detroit.
“I’m a little sad that Spirit is leaving because I live in Newark and all my family is in, Birmingham. So, this summer, it was so easy for me to visit my family two and three times because it’s here and it’s a nonstop flight and the prices is real reasonable,” said Janice Toney-Croskey, a traveler from Newark who’s originally from Birmingham.
Despite the changes, Birmingham-Shuttlesworth is experiencing growth, with Southwest Airlines adding a second daily flight to Denver and Nashville and a third weekday flight to Orlando.
Spirit Airlines filed for bankruptcy in August, leading to a restructuring that included the decision to leave Birmingham-Shuttlesworth.
“So unfortunately, they had to make a business decision. The good news for us is that we continue to grow here. When Spirit leaves, we really will only lose one nonstop destination, and that’s Fort Lauderdale,” said Kim Hunt, vice president of communications at the airport.