Spirit Airlines Launches $37 Milwaukee-Detroit Flights, Challenging Ground Travel

MILWAUKEE, Wis. – (Civic Media) – It’s a price point that makes selling train travel tricky. Spirit Airlines will launch nonstop flights between Milwaukee Mitchell International Airport and Detroit starting June 13, with introductory fares as low as $37 each way.

The twice-weekly flights will take place on an Airbus A320.

Spirit will be offering a one-hour flight, competing with a six-hour drive and an eight-hour Amtrak train. “These new flights are significantly faster than dealing with Chicago traffic delays,” said airport director Brian Dranzik.

The budget carrier continues expanding its Milwaukee network, adding Detroit alongside new routes to Los Angeles, Baltimore, and Nashville launching in May. Spirit now serves nine nonstop destinations from MKE, including Fort Lauderdale and Las Vegas.

Milwaukee’s airport saw 5% passenger growth in 2024, reaching 6.3 million travelers, the highest since 2019.