The largest member of Airbus' A320 Family
aircraft ushers in a new chapter for the airline with even better
fuel-efficiency & more seats per departure on existing
routes
Aircraft photos available HERE
MIRAMAR, Fla.,
June 5,
2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Spirit Airlines (NYSE:
SAVE) today celebrated a major company first with the unveiling of
its first A321neo aircraft in a ceremony at the airline's
Detroit maintenance hangar. The
aircraft, N702NK, will operate its first commercial flight on
June 7. Spirit plans to accept seven
more new A321neos in 2023, and 24 more are projected for delivery
in 2024 in addition to other A320 Family aircraft deliveries.
The A321 is the largest member of the Airbus A320 Family, and
Spirit currently operates 30 A321ceo aircraft in its fleet of
nearly 200 aircraft. Spirit already operates one of the youngest
and most fuel-efficient fleets in the industry and adding the
A321neo to its fleet will drive even more fuel efficiency. Going
forward, all of Spirit's A321 aircraft will deliver with new engine
option (NEO) advanced engines that together with fuel-saving
Sharklet™ wingtip devices, are 20 percent more fuel-efficient than
A321ceo aircraft. Additionally, the new aircraft offer additional
range and a quieter onboard experience for Guests.
"Adding this new variant of the A320 Family aircraft to our
fleet is a feat that has been years in the making. I'm grateful for
all our Team Members who made it possible for us to step up our
capabilities and open the door to new horizons for Spirit," said
Ted Christie, Spirit Airlines
President and CEO. "We know our Guests enjoy the brand-new plane
experience combined with our latest cabin upgrades, and on the
business side of the equation, this transition will increase our
average gauge, which will drive efficiencies that benefit unit
costs and reduce fuel burn."
Spirit is currently in a fleet renewal process as it retires its
A319ceo aircraft while adding larger, more modern aircraft to
increase capacity and fuel efficiency. Spirit recently completed an
agreement to sell 29 of its A319ceo aircraft, which are the oldest
aircraft in Spirit's fleet and the smallest of the Airbus A320
Family aircraft. The company is planning for all its A319ceo
aircraft to transition out the fleet by the end of 2025.
The new features and benefits of the A321neo include:
- A321neos offer expanded seating capacity with the optimized use
of cabin space, increased exit limits and a new cabin door
configuration. Additionally, all new aircraft are receiving
Spirit's latest cabin upgrade with enhanced, wider seats that
include additional usable legroom from the curved seatback
design.
- The larger aircraft allow Spirit to increase capacity at
constrained slot-controlled airports, providing More Go for
Guests in major metropolitan areas.
- Spirit will maintain its wide aisles that allow quicker on- and
off-boarding and extra space for crews to work.
- The new aircraft add an additional 500 nautical miles in range
over the previous generation A321ceo type, opening new destination
opportunities.
- Spirit is installing Pratt & Whitney GTF engines on new
aircraft deliveries. The GTF engine has demonstrated its promised
ability to reduce fuel burn and carbon emissions by 16 percent on
this family of aircraft, reduce nitrogen oxide emissions by 50
percent compared to the regulatory standard and reduce the noise
footprint by 75 percent.
Recognition
Aviation Week Network's Air Transport
World (ATW) named Spirit Airlines the Value Airline of the
Year as part of the ATW 2023 Airline Industry Achievement
Awards. Additionally, WalletHub named Spirit the Most
Affordable Airline and No. 2 of 11 overall in its 2023 Best
Airline Awards. Spirit was also recognized with the FAA's "Aviation
Maintenance Technician Diamond Award of Excellence" for the
fifth consecutive year.
About Spirit Airlines:
Spirit Airlines (NYSE:
SAVE) is committed to delivering the best value in the sky. We are
the leader in providing customizable travel options starting with
an unbundled fare. This allows our Guests to pay only for the
options they choose — like bags, seat assignments, refreshments and
Wi-Fi — something we call À La Smarte®. Our Fit Fleet® is one of
the youngest and most fuel-efficient in the United States. We serve destinations
throughout the U.S., Latin America
and the Caribbean, making it
possible for our Guests to venture further and discover more than
ever before. We are committed to inspiring positive change in the
communities where we live and work through the Spirit Charitable
Foundation. Come save with us at spirit.com.
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SOURCE Spirit Airlines, Inc.