Passenger traffic, revenue passenger miles (RPMs) and available seat miles (ASMs) for low-fare specialist Spirit Airlines, the largest privately-held airline in the United States, once again increased in January 2001 compared with January 2000 numbers, continuing the trend Spirit has set during the past 2+ years.

This marks the 29th consecutive month Spirit has experienced such growth.

Spirit’s RPMs in January 2001 - 261,079,000 - are a 22.9 percent increase from January 2000’s figure of 212,449,000. The carrier’s ASMs for January 2001 - 368,948,000 - are a 22.2 percent increase from the prior January’s figure of 301,997,000.

The carrier’s traffic count for January 2001 - 260,901 passengers - is up 22.8 percent compared with the 212,537 passengers the airline enplaned in January 2000.

Spirit’s load factor for January 2001 was 70.8 percent, compared with 70.3 percent in the previous January.

“The January numbers and our history of continued growth offer strong evidence for a solid year in 2001,” said Ned Homfeld, chairman and founder of Spirit Airlines.

Homfeld also said traffic continues to grow faster than the airline’s capacity increases, “which demonstrates customers are taking advantage of our enhanced winter schedule.”

Spirit’s fleet currently consists of 22 MD-80 aircraft and six DC-9s, operating 85 flights daily. The company intends to add two additional MD-80 aircraft to its fleet in the first quarter of 2001.

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