We got Spirit! Low-cost Spirit Airlines coming to Columbia in June

Columbia Metropolitan Airport is adding an airline this summer with the inclusion of Spirit Airlines. 

The bright, yellow airplanes of the nation’s biggest budget airline will take off from Columbia starting on June 5.

Students looking for spring break transit or tourists wanting to visit New York City could be thrilled. Spirit will offer nonstop service to Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport and the only direct flights to Newark (New Jersey) Liberty International Airport and Orlando International Airport, according to a press release from Spirit Airlines.

The announcement came just days before the airline exited bankruptcy. Spirit filed for Chapter 11 in November but recently exited that, hoping to return to profitability with a new reorganization plan.

Spirit’s arrival offers a new resource for out-of-state students at the University of South Carolina.

Anna Kate Murrison, who’s from Boca Raton, Florida, has previously struggled getting back and forth from home. 

“When I travel home for breaks, I typically make the eight and a half hour drive home,” Murrison said. “Having to drive takes two days for travel there and back, which for school is not ideal, especially for short breaks. Flying is so much more convenient.”

Murrison is also looking forward to saving money. 

“Columbia is such a small airport, and the airline options are so expensive,” Murrison said. “Having Spirit would not only be more cost-effective for me, but also way more convenient with the options of direct flights home.” 

Having Spirit Airlines in Columbia also could attract more out-of-state students to the school, said USC student Izzy Paglia from Long Island, New York.

“I feel like when families care a lot about the finances of going into college, you need to lay out all the logistics of how you would get there and back every time,” Paglia said. “I think it could open doors for students who might be financially limited.”

The new airline and direct routes are beneficial for the Midlands as a whole, according to Gregg Hornsby, interim president, CEO and CFO at Columbia Metropolitan Airport. 

“Securing three nonstop routes on Spirit Airlines is a significant accomplishment for the airport and likewise a big win for this entire community and region,” Hornsby said.

Spirit’s Vice President of Network Planning, John Kirby, said the partnership increases Columbians’ access to destinations with beaches, theme parks and big city attractions, including Disney World.

“We’re excited to kick off our Columbia service just in time for summer and deliver a great value to visit some of the most popular leisure destinations along the East Coast,” Kirby said.

Spirit is also offering a special introductory fare, according to the press release. One-way tickets are available for purchase through March 20, 2025., for guests traveling between Columbia and Fort Lauderdale, Newark, and Orlando starting at $50 for travel between June 5 and Aug. 12, 2025.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.