Airlines Spirit Airlines boosts fleet with 15 new Airbus aircraft from ALC

Leasing company Air Lease Corporation (ALC) and U.S.-Carrier Spirit Airlines have announced long-term placements for 10 leased Airbus A321neo aircraft and sale and leasebacks for five new Airbus A320neos. In total, the 15 aircraft will boost the carrier´s fleet and will allow Spirit to operate cost efficient.

The five A320neos are scheduled to be delivered to Spirit between the end of this year and 2022. They will be owned by “one of ALC´s managed aircraft ventures through funds managed by Waterfall Asset Management“, as the leasing company explained. The A321neos will then follow between 2023 and 2024.

Scott Haralson, Chief Financial Officer of Spirit Airlines, said: “We appreciate our partnership with ALC on the financing of 15 new aircraft delivering now through 2024. This partnership helps us to achieve our previously announced capacity plans for 2022 and 2023, and our targeted growth in 2024, as we Invest in the Guest and deliver new exciting destinations.”

“Combining sale and leasebacks for near term deliveries of Spirit’s A320neos on behalf of our managed business with direct placement of ten of our A321neos from our orderbook with Airbus will further enhance Spirit Airlines’ overall operations and commitment to maintain a highly competitive, fuel-efficient fleet,” Steven F. Udvar-Házy, Executive Chairman of Air Lease Corporation added.

Due to travel restrictions being lifted by the governments, more and more airlines are seeking to expand their destination portfolios with new aircraft. Spirit Airlines will use these 15 new aircraft to not only modernize operations with fuel and emission-friendly aircraft but will also be able to expand to new markets throughout North America.

Spirit Airlines is a low-cost carrier and was founded in 1983 while commencing passenger operations seven years later in 1990. The current fleet consists of only Airbus aircraft. 31 Airbus A319s, 107 A320s with 43 A320neos and 30 A321s belong to the fleet. Spirit serves around 80 destinations throughout the United States, South America, Central America and the Caribbean.