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Spirit Airlines Comes To Piedmont Triad International Airport

A Spirit passenger plane arrives, Wednesday, Aug. 31, 2016, at the Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. (AP Photo/Alan Diaz)

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.

Bethany is WFDD's editorial director. She joined the staff in the fall of 2012. She received her B.A. and M.A. in English Literature from Wake Forest University. Between undergraduate studies and graduate school, Bethany served as the intern to Talk of the Nation at NPR in D.C., participating in live NPR Election Night Coverage, Presidential debate broadcasts, regular Talk of the Nation shows, and helping to plan the inaugural broadcast of ‘Talk of the World.' She enjoys engaging with her interests in books, politics, and art in the interdisciplinary world of public radio. Before becoming editorial director, Bethany was assistant news Director, a reporter and associate producer for WFDD's Triad Arts and Triad Arts Weekend. Originally from Jacksonville, Florida, Bethany enjoys calling the Piedmont home.

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