Spirit Airlines Brings Nearly 3,000 People Home on Humanitarian Flights
MIRAMAR, Fla., May 1, 2020 – Spirit Airlines (NYSE: SAVE) helped nearly 3,000 people return home during the month of April and reunite with their families for the first time since travel restrictions went into place in mid-March. The airline flew 21 humanitarian flights over the course of four weeks, connecting the U.S. with Colombia, Honduras, Haiti, Panama, the Dominican Republic and Aruba.
“Helping thousands of people find a way back to their families has been a bright spot for us during a tough time for the airline industry,” said Ted Christie, President and CEO of Spirit Airlines. "We know that there are still many people who have not been able to return to their loved ones, and we are committed to continue working with governments throughout Latin America and the Caribbean to get them home.”
Spirit's humanitarian flights are the result of weeks of coordination with embassies, consulates and other government entities to obtain travel permits between countries restricting international flights due to the COVID-19 (coronavirus). As Florida’s Hometown Airline, Spirit has a long history of carrying Guests across Latin America and the Caribbean. The airline will continue to operate humanitarian flights at the request of embassy or consulate officials when possible. Guests needing to return home from an international destination should contact their country’s embassy in that location.
Spirit has the following humanitarian flights scheduled:
Humanitarian Flights
Routes:
Dates:
Medellin (MDE) – Fort Lauderdale (FLL)
Friday, May 1, 2020
Bogota (BOG) – Fort Lauderdale (FLL)
Saturday, May 2, 2020
Bogota (BOG) – Fort Lauderdale (FLL)
Sunday, May 3, 2020
Bogota (BOG) – Fort Lauderdale (FLL)
Monday, May 4, 2020
Medellin (MDE) – Fort Lauderdale (FLL)
Tuesday, May 5, 2020
Cali (CLO) – Fort Lauderdale (FLL)
Thursday, May 7, 2020
Panama City (PTY) – Fort Lauderdale (FLL)
Friday, May 8, 2020
Bogota (BOG) – Fort Lauderdale (FLL)
Saturday, May 9, 2020
Fort Lauderdale (FLL) – Aruba (AUA)
Sunday, May 10, 2020
Oranjestad (AUA) – Cartagena (CTG) – Fort Lauderdale (FLL)
Sunday, May 10, 2020
Some of Spirit’s most recent humanitarian flights included the repatriation of 300 Hondurans back home, organized in collaboration with the Honduran Consulate in Miami, Broward County Mayor Dale Holness and the 15 de Septiembre Foundation.
“The humanitarian flights scheduled to San Pedro Sula have been a valuable opportunity for hundreds of people who have spent weeks of despair without being able to return to their homes in Honduras,” said Ricardo Estrada, Consul General of Honduras in Miami. “Today, that possibility becomes a reality thanks to the joint effort of the Honduran Government, pro-migrant organizations in Florida and the social responsibility of Spirit Airlines.”
Guests make each trip on board one of Spirit’s signature bright yellow planes with every middle seat blocked off to improve social distancing. As these humanitarian flights continue, Spirit will follow health and safety guidelines from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) while remaining in close contact with authorities to ensure the safety of its Guests and Team Members.
