Local

Spirit Airlines to offer daily, direct flights between Orlando and Ponce, Puerto Rico

ORLANDO, Fla. — Spirit Airlines has announced plans to offer daily flights from Orlando to Ponce, Puerto Rico beginning in February.

The airport, on the south side of the Island, will be the third major airport Spirit will connect to in Puerto Rico.

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Spirit Airlines officials and people from Puerto Rico agree it’s just another sign of the strong bond that’s grown between the two areas since Hurricane Maria hit the island in 2017.

Dr. Arcilio Alvarado of Advantage Medical Group in Orlando saw it first-hand. He helped organize a group to help deliver supplies to the island as many from Puerto Rico took refuge in Central Florida.

“I’ll never forget this community,” Dr. Alvarado said.

Spirit Airlines Director of International Stations Camilo Martelo agrees that connection has been good for business as well.

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“The growth, the migration of the vibrant Puerto Rican community has enabled us to increase our presence in the Central Florida area.”

Spirit already has direct flights connecting Orlando to San Juan and Aguadilla.

Ponce will be the third city in Puerto Rico that will hit Orlando then connect directly to several other major U.S. cities, including Dallas, Atlanta, Baltimore, and Cleveland.

Dr. Alvarado, who runs medical offices both locally and in Puerto Rico, says there’s also a lot of investment flowing from Florida back to the island, particularly in the south near Ponce.

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“We love FLorida, Puerto Ricans...and I know people in Florida love Puerto Rico.

Spirit says they plan to start the flights to Ponce on February 16, 2022.

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Jeff Deal

Jeff Deal, WFTV.com

I joined the Eyewitness News team as a reporter in 2006.