Have you got the Indy Spirit?
The US budget airline with the resplendent yellow planes, Spirit Airlines is celebrating the launch of its inaugural service from Indianapolis International Airport (IND) with the announcement of two additional nonstop routes set to start this winter.
Beginning November 14th, 2019, Spirit will add nonstop routes from Indy to Tampa, Florida and Fort Myers, Florida. The new routes are announced the same day the airline begins nonstop daily service from Indianapolis to Orlando, Florida and Las Vegas, Nevada. On May 2, Spirit will add nonstop seasonal flights between Indianapolis and Myrtle Beach, South Carolina three times weekly. The new routes will create dozens of connections throughout Spirit’s domestic and international network.
“Spirit Airlines is excited to celebrate the launch of our Indianapolis service with the promise of even more nonstop flights on the way,” said John Kirby, Spirit Airlines’ Vice President of Network Planning. “These two additional routes reinforce our growing investment from the Crossroads of America. We believe Circle City guests looking to get away will embrace our low fares and the best value in the sky.”
“Adding additional flights -- at this time -- sends a clear message about the value Spirit Airlines sees in Indianapolis,” said Mario Rodriguez, Executive Director of the Indianapolis Airport Authority. “Spirit is giving Indy travellers more nonstop flights to the places they love most, and connectivity to international destinations in Latin America and the Caribbean. That’s a statement we’re taking full note of as we welcome Spirit Airlines to the city.”
“Within the past week, we’ve not only had the opportunity to celebrate our airport being named the #1 airport in North America for the seventh year in a row, but we’re also excited to welcome Spirit Airlines to Indy, celebrate their inaugural flight and their announcement of two additional flights,” said Leonard Hoops, President and CEO of Visit Indy. “A new carrier and quality air service provider at IND like Spirit provides more airlift into the city and more visitors to Indianapolis. One of the benefits of IND continuing to increase its record number of nonstop flights is that we’ve also seen a record for inbound visitors coming to the city for either business or leisure.”
Spirit Airlines was recently named 2018 Value Airline of the Year by Air Transport World. The airline is making good on its promise to offer the best value in the sky by maintaining one of the most on-time operations in the United States and adding high-speed Wi-Fi to its entire fleet. In addition to Indianapolis, Spirit recently began serving Austin and will soon serve Raleigh-Durham, Charlotte, Burbank and Sacramento.
Indianapolis International Airport will also be offing new food and beverage options that have a true Indy feel as the board recently voted in approve six new contracts.
The vote took place during the monthly board meeting and the newly approved food and beverage vendors will provide local brands and products, reflecting the changes in culture and community of Indianapolis and the state. Since the Indy airport opened its new terminal doors 10 years ago, local culinary has been nationally recognized and the new vendors are a strong representation of the award-winning Indy food and beverage scene.
The selected food and beverage operators were chosen from a field of 16 entities that responded to the Indy airport’s solicitation and represent some of the top trending national, regional and local brands.
“Today is yet another culmination of our discussions over the past three years with diverse business vendors, which has resulted in a good mix of locally owned and local products to provide a customer experience that reflects the taste and culture of Indianapolis,” said Indianapolis Airport Authority Executive Director Mario Rodriguez.
The six contracts will bring 19 distinct locations of new or expanded food and beverage concepts to the Indy airport, representing a 50 % increase in local brand representation, a 100 % increase in food and beverage concepts that represent the Indianapolis culture, and a 300 % increase in diverse business participation.
“The Concessions Refresh initiative, in total, will include a three-year phased construction plan ensuring airport passengers and guests have access to the products and services they need while travelling." Said, Marsha Stone, IAA senior director of commercial enterprise.
New Local Concepts and Local Products
Indiana-based restaurants like Sun King Brewery, Bub’s Burgers, HotBox Pizza, Social Cantina, Tinker Coffee, Ben’s Soft Pretzels and the Stacked Pickle will show-off their Hoosier culinary ingenuity at the Indy airport and present travelers with a taste of Indiana. The award-winning Harry and Izzy’s will expand their existing concepts as part of this wave of new contracts, and key locations will provide locally sourced products, such as The Farmers’ Market, Indiana Pacers Courtside Club and Circle City Beer Garden.
The Farmers’ Market created in partnership with Indiana Grown (the local food-branding initiative for the Indiana State Department of Agriculture) will provide passengers local farm-to-table options, delivering a concept similar to that of the Indianapolis City Market.
Nationally Recognised Brands
New dining concepts like Shake Shack, Bento Sushi, and Starbucks will provide travelers with a recognizable brand. Starbucks will expand their existing concepts in new locations at the Indy airport, with another option for a coffee fix in a brand new location in Baggage Claim with a combination Circle City News store.
SSP America will open Bub’s Burgers, HotBox Pizza, The Farmer’s Market, Sun King Brewery and Bento Sushi and expand the iconic Harry and Izzy’s dining location. HMSHost will open Ben’s Soft Pretzel’s, Indiana Pacers Courtside Club, Circle City Beer Garden, Shake Shack, adjust multiple Starbucks locations with a combination Starbucks/Circle City News. OHM Group will open the Social Cantina, Tinker Coffee and the Stacked Pickle.
These news concepts are strategically located throughout the airport based on passenger feedback, a multi-year research project, and industry standards. Balancing pre- and post-security food and beverage options was a priority during this round of contracts.
Concourse A will become home to Bub’s Burgers, Bento Sushi, the Stacked Pickle, and the Social Cantina, as well as the expanded Harry and Izzy’s concept. Concourse B will house Shake Shack, Sun King Brewery, and The Farmers’ Market.
Tinker Coffee and Starbucks will be located in both Concourse A and B and Civic Plaza, while a new Starbucks/Circle City News location will open in Baggage Claim. Civic Plaza will showcase HotBox Pizza, Indiana Pacers Courtside Club and Circle City Beer Garden.
The airport purports to support civil rights, it says it is unlawful for airport operators and their lessees, tenants, concessionaires and contractors to discriminate against any person because of race, colour, national origin, sex, creed or disability in public services and employment opportunities. However, despite this, the airport supports discrimination on the grounds of sexuality.
.
