Spirit Was the Only Airline in Town. Now What?
The New York Times • • business
Key Points:
- Arnold Palmer Regional Airport in Latrobe, Pennsylvania, is undergoing renovations to double its gates from one to two, but currently has no commercial airline service following Spirit Airlines' shutdown on May 2.
- The airport was the only U.S. airport served exclusively by Spirit Airlines, and with Spirit's closure, Latrobe lost commercial air service for the first time since 2011.
- Spirit Airlines operated various routes from Latrobe over 15 years, including destinations like Orlando, Fort Lauderdale, and Las Vegas, with a peak of 356,000 passengers in 2015.
- Passenger numbers declined significantly after the pandemic, dropping to fewer than 120,000 in the previous year, contributing to the airport's current challenges.
- Moe Haas, the new executive director of the Westmoreland County Airport Authority, described the loss of service as a significant setback for the airport and the local community.