Before we get into the nitty-gritty of Spirit Airlines’ 2021 fleet, let's look at how the company became one of America's fastest-growing carriers. Founded in Michigan in 1983 as a charter airline looking to take gamblers to Atlantic City, Las Vegas, and the Bahamas, the airline was initially called "Charter One." In 1992, Charter One introduced McDonnell-Douglas DC-9s into its fleet and changed its name to become Spirit Airlines.
Now moving away from the casino junkets, Spirit Airlines decided to offer scheduled flights between Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport (DTW) and an underserved Atlantic City International Airport (ACY). Still relying on the draw of Atlantic City casinos in the summer of 1992, Spirit added flights to Atlantic City from Boston and Providence, Rhode Island.
Atlantic City was the springboard for Spirit
Atlantic City became the springboard that helped Spirit Airlines become the airline that it is today. Despite having an airport with a runway long enough to handle the space shuttle, the only flights arriving at ACY were aimed at bringing gamblers to the resort.
The nearly two million people that called South Jersey home would have to drive to Philadelphia or Newark if they wanted to fly anywhere. Spirit Airlines picked up on this and offered regularly scheduled flights from Atlantic City to several destinations in sunny Florida during the winter.
By 1999, Spirit was growing at such a pace and it decided to move its headquarters in Atlantic City and Detroit to Miramar, Florida, in the Miami Metropolitan Area. Now with operations centered around Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport (FLL), Spirit started looking towards the Carribean and Latin America for expansion. Initially operating with a fleet of McDonnell-Douglas DC-9 and MD-80 aircraft, Spirit decided that the Airbus family of jets would be more suitable placing an order with the European planemaker for 30 Airbus A320-200 planes to be delivered starting in 2010.
Spirit has eight Operating bases
Spirit Airlines’ low-cost business model has continued to help it grow from humble beginnings to have bases at the following airports:
- Atlantic City International (ACY)
- Baltimore / Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport (BWI)
- Chicago O'Hare (ORD)
- Dallas / Fort Worth International (DFW)
- Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County (DTW)
- Fort Lauderdale Hollywood (FLL)
- Las Vegas McCarran (LAS)
- Orlando International (MCO)
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The Spirit Airlines fleet in 2021
Spirit Airlines currently has a fleet of 168 aircraft with an average age of 6.9 years old. According to the aviation statistics and data website ch-aviation the Spirit Airlines fleet is made up of the following planes:
- 31 x Airbus A319-100s with 145 seats and an average age of 15.2 years
- 64 x Airbus A320-200s with 182 seats and an average age of 7.1 years
- 43 x Airbus A320neos with 182 seats and an average age of 2.1 years
- 30 x Airbus A321-200s with 228 seats and an average age of 4.9 years
Thanks to a deal signed with the Air Lease Corporation, Spirit Airlines will be taking ten new Airbus A321neo aircraft and five new Airbus A320neos. The A320neos are a part of a leaseback agreement owned by one of ALC's managed aircraft ventures. The A320neos will be delivered to Spirit Airlines during the fourth quarter of 2021 and in 2022. According to Spirit Airlines’ fleet plan, it expects to have 173 aircraft by the end of 2021, rising to 197 in 2022 and 230 by the end of 2023.
As you can see from the above figures, by far the oldest plane in Spirit's fleet is the Airbus A319, which was grounded during the pandemic in favor of more efficient aircraft. As demand for air travel increased, the A319s were returned to service but will be retired as new, more fuel-efficient A319neos start to be delivered.
In keeping with its ultra-low-cost business plan, Spirit Airlines passengers pay for add-ons and extras. All Spirit aircraft are configured in an all-economy layout but have what Spirit calls a "Big Front Seat." Most Spirit aircraft have eight of these bigger seats at the front of the plane except for the Airbus A319s, which have ten.
As Spirit Airlines continues to grow, it is sticking with Airbus and will become the first American airline to operate the Airbus A319neo. Spirit Airlines has orders with Airbus for 31 A319neos, 66 A320neos, and 36 A321-200neos.
Over the years, Spirit Airlines has had its fair share of controversy and critics, yet just like European low-cost-carrier Ryanair, people cannot resist the low ticket prices.
What do you think about Spirit Airlines’ fleet? Please tell us your thoughts in the comments.