Low-fare specialist Spirit Airlines, the largest privately-held airline in the United States, again posted increases in revenue passenger miles (RPMs), available seat miles (ASMs), and passenger traffic in November - the 27th consecutive month the Miramar, Fla.-based carrier has experienced such gains.

Spirit’s RPMs in November 2000 - 252,041,000 - are a 30.4 percent increase from November 1999’s figure of 193,246,000. The year-to-date RPMs through 2000 - 2,503,161,000 - are a 25.6 percent increase from annual figures as of November 1999.

Spirit’s ASMs in November 2000 - 345,591,000 - are a 27.3 percent increase from November 1999’s figure of 271,480,000. The year-to-date ASMs through 2000 - 3,381,896,000 - represent a 28.2 percent increase from the 1999 annual figures as of November 1999.

Spirit’s passenger count for November - 256,676 passengers - is also up, showing a 28.5 percent increase from the 199,704 travelers the airline carried in November 1999.

Spirit’s load factor for November 2000 was 72.9 percent compared with 71.2 percent from last November.

“We’re very encouraged by the continuing increases in our traffic figures,” said Ned Homfeld, Spirit’s chairman and founder. “Our outlook for 2001 also looks very strong - advance bookings at the end of November were more than 20 percent greater than at this time last year.”

Spirit credits much of its traffic increase to customers taking advantage of everyday low fares and the carrier’s enhanced fall and winter schedule, which included the launch of service to Florida destinations from both Chicago/O’Hare and Washington, D.C./Reagan National.

Spirit’s fleet currently consists of 21 MD-80 aircraft and six DC-9s, operating 80 flights daily. The company intends to add one additional MD-80 to its fleet by year-end and two additional MD-80s in the first quarter of 2001.

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