Spirit Airlines to fly Mesa to Las Vegas route

MESA, Ariz. -- Florida-based Spirit Airlines will become the second carrier to provide service from Phoenix-Mesa Gateway Airport to Las Vegas, competing against Allegiant Air on that route.

The low-cost airline will start two daily nonstop flights to Las Vegas on Feb. 9. It also plans daily nonstop service from Phoenix-Mesa to Dallas-Fort Worth with continuing service to Fort Lauderdale, Fla., on March 22.

Spirit already flies between Las Vegas and several other cities. Las Vegas-based Allegiant became Gateway's sole carrier in 2008 after Vision Airlines stopped its service to Las Vegas. Gateway is a former Air Force base in southeast Mesa.

Spirit, based in Fort Lauderdale, saw a 268 percent passenger increase in traffic through McCarran International Airport in November. During the depths of the recession in January 2009, it had reduced its schedule to just seven weekly flights to Detroit. Before Tuesday's announcement it had 147 flights from Las Vegas to seven cities.

The airline plans to open a crew and maintenance base in Las Vegas early next year.