Spirit Airlines has announced its plan to move more than 240 members from its Operational Control Centre (OCC) in Miramar, Florida, to a facility in Williamson County, Tennessee.

The OCC controls flight operations across the US, Latin America and the Caribbean, where they are responsible for flight dispatch, crew scheduling, maintenance control, aircraft routing, air traffic coordination and guest solutions. The airline aims to improve network resiliency and reduce the risk of hurricane and tropical storm risk by relocating members of the OCC, which is expected to be completed by 2021. 

This project will bring 240 positions to the Greater Nashville area, with the potential to add 100 more over the next five years. Additionally, over 700 of Spirit’s members based in Miramar, will move into the airlines’ new headquarters in Fort Lauderdale, scheduled to open in 2022. An additional 225 positions will be opened to support the airline’s expansion of operations. 

“We are committed to our South Florida community, and Florida’s Hometown Airline will continue to create new jobs by supporting our international network and fleetwide training needs from our Broward County home. At the same time, we look forward to building on our plans for future expansion and protecting our growing 24/7 operation by starting this new chapter in Nashville.” – Ted Christie, President and CEO of Spirit Airlines.

“We are honoured that Spirit Airlines has chosen Tennessee as the home of its Operations Control Center and are appreciative of the company’s investment and commitment to bring nearly 350 new jobs in Williamson County,” stated TNECD Commissioner, Bob Rolfe. 

The OCC move comes as Spirit aims to increase its all-Airbus fleet over the next five years. An order of 100 Airbus A320neo family aircraft is to be carried out through till 2027.