Spirit Airlines to begin service from BWI

LINTHICUM, Md. (AP) — Baltimore-Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport is welcoming Spirit Airlines as its newest carrier.

Spirit will begin service from BWI to Dallas-Fort Worth and Fort Lauderdale, Fla., on Thursday. The airport will welcome the first arriving Spirit flight with a "water salute," a traditional greeting for new carriers in which fire engines spray water over the arriving aircraft.

The new carrier comes on the heels of the busiest month in the airport's history. More than 2.2 million passengers flew through BWI in July, eclipsing the previous mark, set in July 2011.

Spirit is a discount airline based in Miramar, Fla. It's known for offering low base fares and charging fees for bringing luggage or using other services.