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Spirit Airlines is taking drastic steps to restructure its business as it works through its second Chapter 11 bankruptcy filing in less than a year. The Florida-based low-cost carrier has asked a bankruptcy court for permission to reject leases on 87 planes including 19 Airbus A320ceo, 65 Airbus A320neo, and three Airbus A321neo aircraft. The filing comes just days after Spirit sought to return 27 Airbus A320neo aircraft to AerCap (one of the world’s largest aircraft lessors). Combined, the two requests would result in the elimination of 114 aircraft from Spirit’s fleet. This is more than half of the 214 planes it operated as of August 2025.
If approved, the restructuring would mark a complete exit from Spirit’s Airbus A320neo fleet. It has been plagued by ongoing problems with Pratt & Whitney engines. The carrier grounded 38 aircraft with these engines earlier this year. That further strained operations and contributed to mounting losses. If the lease rejections are approved, Spirit will be left with around 100 aircraft.
Alongside the fleet reduction, Spirit is scaling back its route network significantly. The airline has already announced plans to exit at least 13 US markets, ranging from smaller destinations like Boise International Airport (BOI) to larger airports such as Minneapolis-Saint Paul International Airport (MSP) and San Diego International Airport (SAN). Roughly 40 routes have been suspended. Schedule data shows that Spirit will fly 19% fewer flights and 16% fewer seats in November compared to the same period in 2024.
Spirit is also targeting deep cost savings through labor cutbacks. The airline plans to furlough approximately 1,800 flight attendants (about one-third of its cabin crew) by December 1st. It is also pursuing concessions from its pilot group. In addition, the company has recently rejected 12 airport leases and 19 ground handling agreements.
Spirit’s leadership has emphasized that these moves are designed to stabilize the airline and create what they describe as a “smaller and stronger” carrier. By shrinking its fleet and network, Spirit aims to save hundreds of millions of dollars annually and focus on a leaner operation that can better withstand financial pressures. The restructuring represents one of the most dramatic overhauls in the US airline industry in recent years.
Anthony’s Take: I’m rooting for Spirit Airlines, but its future is pretty uncertain. We’ll see what comes next and if it’s enough to keep the bright yellow planes flying.
(Image Credits: Spirit Airlines.)
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1 comment
The planes are a loss in this unfortunate death spiral, but the loss of pilots is one of the real assets that I think made them a merger target in the past, until the Biden administration interrupted their valid path to success as part of another carrier. Instead, the larger carriers will have less competition on many of the old Spirit routes, which will help them to raise fares for passengers.