Discount carrier Spirit Airlines has announced daily service between Fort Lauderdale and Denver starting May 3, as it reported higher profits and increased revenue for 2011. Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport already offers five flights a day to Denver from other airlines: Southwest, United/Continental and Frontier. Spirit is the top carrier at Fort Lauderdale airport, carrying 20 percent of its passengers last year.

In the fourth quarter, Spirit said its profit more than doubled to $23.9 million, partly from higher non-ticket revenue from such fees as baggage. Operating revenue rose nearly 27 percent to $273.9 million.For the full year, the airline’s profit rose 5.5 percent to $76.4 million. Operating revenue rose 37 percent to nearly $1.1 billion. That included a 57 percent jump in non-ticket revenue to $381.5 million, as Spirit added more fees. Spirit’s costs also are rising, especially for fuel. The airline spent 56 percent more on fuel in 2011 than a year earlier — burning up 36 percent of its revenue.

For its new Denver service, Spirit is offering $28.79 fares each way based on round-trip purchase and available through Friday at spirit.com. Spirit plans to leave for Denver at 9:15 p.m. on weekdays and 11:20 p.m. on weekends. It plans to fly from Denver to Fort Lauderdale at 12:30 a.m. daily except Sundays and Mondays and 2:30 a.m. on Sundays and Mondays.

Sun Sentinel