A baby born during a flight to Dallas has been given free flights on his birthday for life by a US airline.

Cristina Penton, who was 36 weeks pregnant, went into labour during a flight from Fort Lauderdale to Dallas/Fort Worth, the Spirit Airline said.

The flight was diverted to New Orleans but Ms Penton had her baby before the plane landed. A pediatrician and a nurse on board helped the flight attendants with the delivery.

The baby boy has been named Christoph Carsten.

"He wanted to have an early arrival,'' Spirit spokesman Paul Berry said at a press conference.

"Within 10, 15 minutes of takeoff I felt like something was not fine,'' Ms Penton said, adding that contractions were coming every five minutes, then four minutes, then three minutes. She notified the crew. Her water broke early in the flight and   and she delivered the baby within 50 minutes.

"It went really, really quick,'' she said.

As news of the baby’s delivery spread through the cabin, people began clapping, according to a passenger on the flight.

“I think the thing that surprised me and others the most was the woman made no noise,” Marlene Cabrera told The Washington Post. “It was all quiet for about 20 minutes until you heard a baby crying, and then you heard people cheering and applauding. People on the plane were pretty good about it. … I just think it was handled in such a positive way.”

Ms Penton said she had carried two other babies full term and the thought of an early delivery never crossed her mind. 

The airline said Christoph Lezcano and a guest can fly free every year on his birthday for life.