Ultra-low- cost carrier starts service from Columbus

Columbus has seen a number of budget airlines come and go over the years, from People Express to Skybus.

On Thursday morning, Spirit Airlines, a leader among the current crop of ultra-lowcost carriers, is scheduled to make its inaugural flight from John Glenn Columbus International Airport.

The first flight out will be headed to Orlando, Florida.

The other six initial destinations from Columbus will include Las Vegas, Fort Lauderdale, Tampa, Fort Myers, New Orleans and Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. The latter two start next month.

Orlando, Fort Lauderdale and Las Vegas flights will operate year-round, with the rest flying on a seasonal basis.

Base fares start at $100 or less roundtrip, but those unfamiliar with the "a la carte" model need to read the fine print carefully. Spirit charges extra for nearly everything, from having the ability to change a reservation to being able to bring a carry-on bag larger than 8 inches by 14 inches by 18 inches.

An explanation of the airline's fees and policies can be found at https://www.spirit.com/ Spirit101-en.html.

Other points Spirit promotes include having a young fleet of planes — its Airbus aircraft have an average age of just over 5 years — and offering low fares, even for travelers booking on short notice. Other airlines typically charge significantly more to buy a ticket less than a week or two in advance.

Matt Klein, senior vice president and chief commercial officer of Spirit, said Spirit liked Columbus as an expansion market because of its good growth prospects and attractive demographics. The mix of a large number of college students, the state capital and low unemployment were particularly attractive, he said.

Joseph Nardone, the new CEO of the Columbus Regional Airport Authority, is a fan.

Spirit Airlines has a big presence in Detroit that increased during his tenure overseeing Detroit Metropolitan Airport before moving to Columbus.

"Spirit is a good airline. I've been really impressed with them," Nardone said.

There has been a lot of grousing about added fees, as there was when Skybus Airlines, now defunct, introduced them to the Columbus market a decade ago. The a la carte model doesn't appeal to everyone, which is why Southwest Airlines continues to promote its policies of two free checked bags and no change fees.