Following the carrier’s abrupt closure this month, Spirit Airlines planes are out of commission, though they may get a second life.
Currently, the airline’s fleet is being divided based on who owns each plane and the carrier’s bankruptcy proceedings. Generally, when an airline collapses, leased aircraft are returned to lenders. Planes can be repossessed – and creditors may seize eligible aircraft and sell them to recoup financial losses. Additionally, any planes left over may be sold or transferred to one or multiple other airlines. The latter scenario includes the transfer of planes if the collapsed carrier is acquired by another carrier. Planes can also be scrapped and sold by parts.
Following a collapse, an airline’s planes are transferred by company pilots or by those working for a hired transactional flight operator.
Naturally, aircraft will need to be inspected, refurbished, repainted, and outfitted with a new carrier’s unique touches and furnishings before passengers board.
What Else Is There To Know?
The redistribution of Spirit aircraft may be a lengthy process. As for the carrier’s fleet, USA TODAY reports that a significant number of Spirit planes are being stored at Phoenix Goodyear Airport (GYR) in Arizona. Parking fees must be paid, but the dry, desert climate reportedly reduces the risk of aircraft damage during storage. Cirium, an aviation analytics source, stated in an early May report that “Spirit now has 172 aircraft in service or in storage, of which all but 48 are managed by lessors.”
As the aftermath of Spirit’s closure settles, travelers and the domestic aviation landscape will likely notice several changes. Regarding airport operations, travelers shouldn’t expect Spirit employees at check-in counters, at gates, or in uniform on the job. Globally, around 17,000 of the carrier’s employees were laid off upon its closure, with over 4,000 based in Florida, according to NBC 6.
Notably, Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport (FLL) is Spirit’s former flight hub. This month, JetBlue Airways announced new routes out of FLL, so flyers continue to have a variety of routes to the South Florida stop. Travelers may also experience fluctuations in airfare, as Spirit was a significant player not only in U.S. commercial aviation but also among low-cost carriers.
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