Photo by Jesse Scott
Audio By Carbonatix
If the Overseas Highway is Florida’s most scenic slow roll, Spirit Airlines just introduced the exact opposite commute. The carrier launched its new nonstop service between Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport and Key West International Airport on Thursday, November 6, promising an island escape that skips the traffic, tolls, and that one car that thinks 30 mph is the correct speed for all of U.S. 1.
The inaugural, 35-minute flight out of Gate G6 had field trip energy. With the Race World Offshore Key West Championships happening this weekend, the cabin was a mix of tourism execs, boat racing enthusiasts, vacation-bound couples, and even outlaw country artist Kevin Thomas, who is scheduled to perform during the boat spectacle on Friday — not exactly your average Thursday morning commuter crowd.
Photo by Jesse Scott
The plane itself? It still had that new-plane smell. Premium Economy offered noticeably more legroom than expected, and Spirit First looked legitimately cushy with bigger seating and perks baked in. This particular hop was billed as a 50-minute journey, but the crew made it happen in 35. Captain Dylan and co-captain Sebastian took us up to 16,000 feet, and the flight was so quick that there was no traditional service. We blinked twice, and before we knew it, were preparing for landing.
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The celebration started early, too. Fort Lauderdale Fire Rescue rolled water cannons to salute the sendoff, and Key West International returned the favor with its own spraydown upon arrival. If you’re going to jumpstart a new route, you might as well do it like you just won the Stanley Cup.
Touchdown was followed by a small welcome party for all fliers: free key lime pie bars from Kermit’s, Spirit swag bags filled with hats, koozies, fans, and sunscreen, plus airport staff looking genuinely thrilled to greet new arrivals.
Photo by Jesse Scott
From a traveler’s perspective, this flight is a win for anyone who sees Key West as a destination rather than a road trip. If your plan is Duval, water excursions, sunsets, and seafood towers, this route gets you into the action without the pack-the-car long haul. It is also a budget-friendly option in a region where boat charters and private planes are usually the fast-track, hella-expensive alternatives. The route runs three times a week and is expected to expand to daily service in December.
The timing of the inaugural flight is notable. On the same day, FAA capacity cuts were announced for several airports, including FLL and MIA.
