Piedmont Triad International Airport is welcoming a new carrier. Spirit Airlines will be flying in and out of the region beginning in September.

Spirit will run non-stop flights from PTI to three Florida destinations: Tampa, Orlando, and Fort Lauderdale.

The Florida-based airline is known for its low fares and a la carte business model that allows passengers to pay only for the options they choose, such as baggage, seat assignments, and refreshments.

Mark Kopczak is Spirit Airlines' Vice President of Network Planning. He says this announcement has been in the works for about 10 years.

“We feel like more people these days have fewer choices at Piedmont Triad and have had to venture over to places like Charlotte or Raleigh to catch flights to other locations," he says. "So we think that by adding non-stop flights from the local, very convenient airport here, and doing so with low fares, that we can stimulate the market and get some of those people to fly out of the local airport.”

PTI is Spirit Airlines' 66th service location.