Newsday.com
Spirit Airlines seen close to coming to MacArthur
BY JENNIFER MALONEY
[email protected]
February 15, 2008
The Town of Islip is close to completing a deal to bring Spirit Airlines, which specializes in Caribbean flights, to Long Island MacArthur Airport, according to sources familiar with the negotiations.
Spirit, a low-cost carrier with 23 destinations in Latin America and the Caribbean, is expected to offer two flights a day from MacArthur to the airline's hub in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. Sources who requested anonymity because the deal is not done said the flights could start as early as May 1.
Islip officials hope that Spirit eventually will expand its presence at the airport and offer direct flights to the Caribbean, including to San Juan, Puerto Rico, the sources said.
Town officials said they could not confirm that Islip is in negotiations with the airline. A Spirit spokesman did not return calls yesterday. The sources said the agreement could be solidified within the next two weeks.
Observers called the potential deal a promising development for the airport, which has been hoping to capitalize on the congestion at major New York-area airports by attracting new airlines to Islip.
"I think any additional service, and especially direct service [to the Caribbean], is going to have a very strong positive impact on our tourism and our communities overall," said Moke McGowan, president of the Long Island Convention and Visitors Bureau. "I'm delighted."
Spirit already flies out of LaGuardia, but runway delays there prompted it to consider MacArthur, which rarely has delays, sources said.
As Islip officials look to expand service at MacArthur, they are preparing a major promotional campaign later this year aimed at attracting both travelers and airlines.
The town appointed a new airport commissioner last week, and plans to make several structural improvements this year, including a new surveillance camera system and additional runway lights.
Islip officials have touted MacArthur as a hassle-free alternative to Kennedy, LaGuardia and Newark Liberty airports, both for customers who want to fly during peak times and for airlines competing for limited peak hour slots at the larger airports.
Spirit would create competition for Southwest Airlines, which offers 28 daily departures from Islip, including three to Fort Lauderdale.
Southwest spokeswoman Christie Day said her company does not comment on the moves of other airlines. Calling Long Island "a target market for us," she said, "We're really focusing efforts there to continue to grow."
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