Key West Adds 24th Nonstop Destination with Spirit Airlines Launch

FLORIDA KEYS VIDEO ADVISORY November 7, 2025

Contacts: Mary B. Haban, Mary@fla-keys.com (813) 210-8585 or Chad Newman, Chad@fla-keys.com (310) 283-8441  

Story: Key West Adds 24th Nonstop Destination with Spirit Airlines Launch

Locator: Key West, Fla.

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B-roll and photos of Spirit Airlines' inaugural flight into Key West International Airport, including the iconic yellow aircraft on the tarmac and passengers disembarking. and a welcome water cannon on November 6, 2025. SOT with Richard Strickland, Executive Director of Airports for Monroe County

TRT: 2:16

Filename: KeyWestSpirt.mp4

Video source: Florida Keys News Bureau 

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Key West Adds 24th Nonstop Destination with Spirit Airlines Launch

Key West, Fla – Getting to the nation's southernmost city just got even easier. Spirit Airlines launched nonstop service between Fort Lauderdale and Key West Wednesday, making it the island's 24th nonstop destination and connecting the paradise to major metros from Boston and Chicago to Philadelphia and Houston through the airline's extensive network.

The Florida-based carrier's iconic yellow planes touched down at Key West International Airport for the first time, turning what used to be a three-and-a-half-hour drive from Fort Lauderdale into a quick, under-an-hour flight.

The new service operates three times weekly on Thursdays, Saturdays and Sundays, with daily flights beginning December 18 for the holiday season. But Spirit's Fort Lauderdale route does more than just serve South Florida—it connects Key West travelers to 26 destinations across the airline's network, meaning easy one-stop connections from major cities including Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Detroit, Houston, Newark, New York, Philadelphia and more.

With American, Delta, United, JetBlue, Allegiant, Breeze and now Spirit, Key West International Airport serves 24 nonstop destinations across the country. Whether travelers are coming from Boston, New York, Chicago, Dallas or Asheville, getting to the island paradise has never been easier. And the numbers prove it—Key West International is on track to break passenger records this year, approaching 1.8 million travelers.

"In my years here, We've gone from six nonstop destinations to the 24," said Richard Strickland, Executive Director of Airports for Monroe County. "We've gone from some 400,000 passengers to what will be approaching 1.8 million. It's been exciting to be a part of, but I think it's exciting for the economic vitality of the Florida Keys."

The airport's new $100 million terminal, complete with air-conditioned glass jet bridges, new restaurants and amenities, welcomed more than 1.4 million passengers in 2024.

"We are approaching a record and breaking it this year," Strickland added. "Spirit will play a role in that with the 26 nonstop destinations that their flight from Fort Lauderdale connects to."

Key West's motto may be "Close to perfect, far from normal," but with 24 nonstop destinations and counting, that island getaway has never been more accessible from almost anywhere in the country.

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