Despite a tough year of navigating a second bankruptcy and continued downsizing that leaves much of its future uncertain, Spirit Airlines is still set to carve out a market on flights to several international destinations.

On Nov. 21, the low-cost airline ran its first flight between Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport (FLL) and Philip S.W. Goldson International Airport (BZE) in Belize. The Central American country bordering Mexico to the north and Guatemala to the south has long been a well-known destination among divers for its sprawling barrier reef system but in recent years has also been seeing an uptick in other tourists looking for new places to catch a few days of sun.

The new flight to Belize City will run three times a week on Mondays, Fridays and Saturdays and depart Fort Lauderdale at 10:15 a.m. to arrive at 11:40 a.m. On the way back, the flight will leave Belize City at 12:35 p.m. to arrive at Fort Lauderdale at 4 p.m. for a total flight time of two hours and 25 minutes.

“We thank the airport for such a warm welcome to this one-of-a-kind destination”

“Adding Belize City to our international route map is a great win for our Guests, and we thank the airport and the community for such a warm welcome to this one-of-a-kind destination,” Spirit Vice President of Network Planning Andrea Lusso said in a statement that also calls Belize a “beautiful and adventure-packed getaway for travelers.”

The new route is Spirit’s first service to Belize; it was also chosen because no other mainstream or low-cost airline currently offers a flight into the Caribbean country directly from Fort Lauderdale.

Related: JetBlue to launch two new flights to trending European destinations

Later in the year on Dec. 4, Spirit is also set to launch another new flight from Fort Lauderdale to Owen Roberts International Airport (GCM) on Grand Cayman. This route will also run three times a week on Thursdays, Saturdays and Sundays and is designed for those looking for more direct access to more hard-to-reach destinations in the Caribbean from South Florida.

“This inaugural flight represents another milestone in expanding our reach, and we look forward to welcoming Spirit’s Guests to discover why our jewel continues to be one of the region’s most captivating destinations,” Belize Minister of Tourism Hon. Anthony Mahler said in his own statement.

Belize is a dream destination for divers due to its extensive barrier reef.

Shutterstock

Spirit Airlines explains why it is looking at Belize and Grand Cayman for its future

Based in the nearby suburb of Dania Beach, Spirit calls FLL its hometown airport and has been working to position it as “the gateway to Latin America and the Caribbean” even as it faces significant challenges over pricing and market competition.

At the start of November, Spirit also launched a 45-minute flight from Fort Lauderdale to Key West International Airport (EYW).

More on travel:

  • Major airline launches surprising flight between Las Vegas and Paris
  • United Airlines CEO gives stark warning on Olympic Games
  • The highest rooftop in Barcelona is in a surprising place
  • US government issues sudden warning on Switzerland travel

To promote the new route, Spirit is offering promotional one-way fares of $85 from Fort Lauderdale and $66 to Grand Cayman but both are already marked as sold out on its website. Both flights will run on an Airbus A320 with seats reserved for the carrier’s Premium Economy and Spirit First in a larger armchair-style seat.

Related: Legendary log cabin hotel forced into involuntary bankruptcy