Spirit Airlines Grows its Bay Area Gateway at OAK with New Service to Chicago-O’Hare

Dallas-Ft. Worth Flights Also Return Year-Round; Both Start May 1

Oakland, Calif. (January 29, 2014)—Spirit Airlines has announced the continued expansion of its San Francisco Bay Area gateway at Oakland International Airport (OAK) with new, daily non-stop flights to Chicago’s O’Hare International Airport (ORD) beginning May 1, 2014.

“We’re delighted that Spirit continues to grow its Bay Area base with new service to one of our largest un-served destination airports and to the popular Chicago market,” said Port of Oakland Director of Aviation Deborah Ale Flint.  “This new daily flight will not only introduce a convenient new option for Bay Area travelers, but it will also open opportunities for more leisure travel to our region by providing easy and affordable access to the Bay Area’s most popular attractions.”

Spirit’s new flight is scheduled to depart OAK daily at 9:10 a.m. and arrive in Chicago at 3:18 p.m. Westbound, the flight is scheduled to depart from Chicago daily at 3:20 p.m. and arrive at OAK at 5:55 p.m. This schedule provides customers with connection opportunities to Spirit’s destinations across the Americas – particularly New York’s LaGuardia Airport.  Spirit’s new Chicago flight is scheduled to operate with a 178-seat Airbus A320 aircraft.

“We are pleased to add the only nonstop service from Chicago/O’Hare International Airport to the San Francisco Bay Area’s most convenient airport,” said Mark Kopczak, Spirit’s Vice President of Network Planning.  “Oakland International Airport is well known by Bay Area travelers for its ease of use and reliability.  We look forward to adding Oakland as Spirit’s 16th nonstop market served from Chicago/O’Hare.”

Also on May 1, Spirit will resume service between OAK and Dallas-Ft. Worth International Airport (DFW).  The daily DFW flight, which began in 2013 as summer seasonal service, will now operate year-round.  From OAK, Spirit’s DFW flight is scheduled to depart at 6:41 p.m. and arrive at 11:56p.  Westbound, the flight is scheduled to depart DFW at 6:50 a.m. and arrive in Oakland at 8:29 a.m.  Spirit will operate this route with its 145-seat Airbus A319 aircraft.

Oakland International Airport is Spirit’s only gateway in the San Francisco Bay Area.  In addition to the new service announced today, the airline offers twice-daily nonstop flights between OAK and Las Vegas (LAS).  Spirit, known for dramatically lowering airfares in every market it enters, provides an a-la-carte fare structure allowing passengers to pay only for the services and amenities they desire—such as a wider Big Front Seat™ with additional legroom and no middle seat at the front of the cabin.

Chicago is the Bay Area’s sixth-largest origin and destination market with more than 2,200 travelers departing for the Windy City each day.  O’Hare alone is the 8th most popular destination airport for Bay Area travelers. Spirit’s new service will compliment existing service between OAK and Chicago’s Midway Airport operated by Southwest.

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About San Francisco Bay Oakland International Airport

San Francisco Bay Oakland International Airport is the main airport for the greater East Bay, the most populated area in the metropolitan San Francisco Bay area. It is the closest airport to most Bay Area employers. By roadway and BART air-rail, OAK enables excellent access to all of the region’s business, entertainment and tourism venues. The vision of San Francisco Bay Oakland International Airport is to be the airport of choice for San Francisco Bay Area residents and visitors alike. OAK is operated by the Port of Oakland, which also oversees the Oakland seaport and 20 miles of East Bay waterfront. Together with its business partners, the Port supports more than 98,000 jobs in the region with more than a $174 billion economic impact.

Updates about current departure and arrival information, airport maps, and details about on-airport parking, shopping and dining and more, can be found at www.oaklandairport.com. Follow us on FacebookTwitterInstagram, and LinkedIn.