Spirit Airlines to add daily nonstop service Columbus-Los Angeles

Spirit Airlines is starting daily nonstop service from Columbus to Los Angeles, another indicator that service is gradually returning to John Glenn Columbus International Airport and Rickenbacker International Airport after a steep decline from the pandemic.

The flight from Los Angeles to Columbus was one of five new nonstops flights in the U.S. that the airline announced Wednesday.

The daily flights between Columbus and Los Angeles will start June 9.

Spirit previously said on June 10 it will offer flights four days a week to Pensacola, Florida — Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday. This is the first time travelers will be able to fly nonstop from Columbus to Pensacola.

The Spirit announcement comes as passenger activity at John Glenn and Rickenbacker is picking up.

From March 4-23, 6,455 passengers a day left the airports, close to 48% of the level before the pandemic started. Previously, it was about a third.

Beyond the Spirit announcement, other airlines say they'll be resuming or adding service from Columbus:

• Delta Air Lines will resume nonstop service from Columbus to Boston on May 5.

• American Airlines will resume nonstop service to LaGuardia Airport in New York City on April 3.

• Southwest Airlines will begin service from Columbus to Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, beginning June 6 and to Sarasota, Florida, on May 9.

• Last week, United Airlines announced seasonal service to Charleston and Hilton Head Island in South Carolina and Portland, Maine, starting in late May.

• Allegiant Air will offer service from Rickenbacker to Norfolk, Virginia, beginning June 3. The Allegiant service to Norfolk was announced before the pandemic, and then delayed. 

mawilliams@dispatch.com

@BizMarkWilliams