91 Jets Across 26 Airports: Inside Spirit Airlines’ Ferry Flights & Who’s Flying Them

Key Points:

• Spirit Airlines, America's largest ultra-low-cost carrier, ceased operations last week, stranding passengers and crew while leaving thousands of staff unemployed and grounding 91 aircraft across 26 U.S. airports.
• The airline operated an all-Airbus A320 family fleet, with the largest concentrations at Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport and Orlando International Airport; several planes have since been moved to storage facilities in Arizona.
• Financial struggles since the COVID-19 pandemic and the failure of a proposed $500 million government bailout, which would have given the U.S. government a 90% stake, led to the airline's shutdown after attempts to cut routes and park aircraft failed to stabilize finances.
• Aircraft are being stored in Arizona's dry desert conditions to prevent corrosion, with lessors now seeking new operators for most leased planes, while Spirit-owned Airbus A321-200ceos may be scrapped for parts, including valuable engines.
• Prior to collapse, Spirit rejected leases on around 87 aircraft to reduce costs, and former fleet members are now being ferried to storage locations such as Pinal Airpark and Phoenix Goodyear Airport as part of the wind-down process.