Spirit to begin Tampa-to-Dallas service

Spirit Airlines will launch service between Tampa and Dallas four days a week beginning in May, challenging American Airlines' non-stop flights and fares.

Beginning May 4, Spirit will offer flights on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays. Additional charges apply for baggage and advance seat assignments, with $30 the lowest fee for a carry-on bag. American charges fees for checked bags, but not carry-ons.

Spirit is offering $28.79 introductory one-way fares from Tampa International Airport to Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport on May 4, 7, 9, 11, 14, 16, 18 and 21 and from Dallas to Tampa on May 4, 5, 7, 9, 12, 14, 16 and 21, with booking required by 11:59 pm tonight.

Because air fares vary by the date, advance purchase and other restrictions, it is difficult to compare fares the two airlines offer. Spirit changed their Tampa-Dallas fares on their website at least once on Thursday.

The flights are part of a new Spirit initiative that increases the number of cities served from Dallas/Fort Worth from three to seven, not including a Spirit filing with the U.S. Department of Transportation to begin service between Dallas and Toluca/Mexico City.

It is not known whether those flights if approved would provide a direct connections to or from Tampa.

"Introducing a low-cost carrier into a market like Dallas/Fort Worth increases competition, making the trip more affordable and providing greater opportunity for our community to travel to this popular destination," Tampa International chief executive Joe Lopano said

The new flights are projected to increase traffic between Tampa and DFW by 50,000 passengers per year, an increase of about 8.5 percent for the route.

Spirit officials would not comment on whether either the Dallas/Fort Worth or Tampa airports offered incentives for the new flights.

A Tampa airport spokeswoman said Tampa International is providing no incentives to Spirit for the Dallas service.