March 04--Spirit Airlines on Wednesday said it will begin new service between Chicago and Mister Rogers' neighborhood, a tiny airport in Latrobe, Pa., near Pittsburgh.
The new daily nonstop route on the ultralow discount airline will begin May 7 between O'Hare and Arnold Palmer Regional Airport in western Pennsylvania.
Latrobe has a population of fewer than 10,000 but is home to golf legend Arnold Palmer, Rolling Rock beer and the Pittsburgh Steelers' training camp. It also was the hometown of Fred Rogers, host of the former children's TV show "Mister Rogers' Neighborhood."
Palmer even offered a statement on the new service: "This is wonderful news from Spirit Airlines. This successful passenger service out of Latrobe keeps growing and growing. Spirit flights to and from Chicago with the good connections should be extremely popular."
Spirit is known for low fares and many add-on fees, even for a carry-on bag that needs to be stowed in the overhead compartment.
Spirit is the only commercial airline to operate from the Latrobe airport, about 40 miles from Pittsburgh. It also flies from Latrobe to five cities in Florida and plans to start service to Las Vegas.
Spirit flies to 23 destinations from Chicago O'Hare.
gkarp@tribpub.com
