Spirit Airlines daily Boston-Atlantic City flights launched

Spirit Airlines, the low-cost airline based in Miramar, Florida, the United States, has launched a daily service between Boston and Atlantic City, from May 1, 2009. The airline explained in a statement that the new service was started as a part of its effort to make the gambling resort of Atlantic City more accessible to a wider market.

Spirit Airlines said its first flight from Boston in Massachusetts – carrying 145 passengers – landed at 11:40 a.m. on May 1, 2009, at Atlantic City International Airport in New Jersey.

The carrier would operate one flight each way daily – with departures from Boston at 10:40 a.m. and Atlantic City International Airport at 5:20 p.m.

The website dailymail.com said in a report that the South Jersey Transportation Authority, which operates the Atlantic City International Airport, and several casinos have been working on plans to expand air service to the gambling resort of Atlantic City.

Michael Pewther, Spirit Airlines’ senior director of sales, was quoted by dailymail.com as saying, “What we want people to remember in Atlantic City is that we add to the economic engine of Atlantic City; we bring people here that will go to the restaurants and gamble and shows and leave their money behind.”

When Spirit Airlines had announced the Boston-Atlantic City daily flights in December 2008, it had offered $9 introductary on-way fares for tickets booked on December 16 and December 17, 2009.

Bart R. Mueller, Executive Director for the South Jersey Transportation Authority (SJTA), had said that thanks to Spirit Airlines passengers to Atlantic City will not need to fly into Philadelphia or Newark.

“Local passengers who enjoy the ease and convenience of the Atlantic City International Airport will now have direct service to Boston and the New England region without the hassle of traveling through the surrounding metro airports,” he added.

Reports said that the SJTA, which operates the Atlantic City International Airport, planned a big welcome for the 138 travelers who were in the first flight from Boston to Atlantic City, on May 1, 2009.

Sharon Gordon, director of communication and marketing for SJTA,was quoted as saying, “For the outbound market it gives the Atlantic City market, the entire Southern New Jersey region and points north other destinations. And for the inbound market, it’s going to be excellent being able to attract new visitors and customers to the gaming and entertainment venues we have here.”

The Spirit Airlines, which describes itself as an “ultra-low-cost airline,” operates scheduled flights throughout the Americas, with over half of them to destinations in Latin America, the Caribbean and Bahamas.