This week, Miramar-based Spirit Airlines announced management team changes according to the South Florida Business Journal, and also new nonstop service from Orlando and Fort Lauderdale to Hartford, CT.

In entering the market for flights from Florida to Hartford’s Bradley International Airport, Spirit is joining JetBlue and Southwest in an intense competition (and seasonal Delta flights from Orlando) for passengers from Connecticut and Western Massachusetts (the Springfield Area) for passengers to/from Florida.

As we’ve theorized before on this website, Spirit’s business model as an Ultra -low cost carrier (ULCC) allows it to compete on busy routes against airlines with a higher price structure. Spirit often appeals to travelers who would not be able to fly otherwise and despite a poor reputation for customer service (albeit one that has been improving the last year since the previous round of management changes) they continue to hold their own.

The Fort Lauderdale and Orlando to Hartfrod/Springfield nonstops will be the latest routes to test the theory that competition doesn’t really impact Spirit the way it does other carriers.