More profit for Spirit Airlines

Low cost US carrier, Spirit Airlines, which flies to international destinations, including Jamaica, has reported a better-than-expected rise in quarterly profit.
   
This was due to an increase in the number of  flights and routes it operates.  
   
The company said it started nonstop flights on 24 new routes and bought three A320 aircraft, ending the quarter with 73 planes.  
   
Spirit's net income rose 18.3 percent to 76.7 million US dollars.
   
However, the airline's revenue per available seat mile, a key measure of  a plane's carrying capacity, dropped about 15 per cent in the second quarter ended June 30, as capacity rose by 30 per cent.  
   
The carrier, which offers low base fares, said average ticket revenue per flight segment fell 19.4 per cent, due to increased competition.