Spirit Airlines retired its last commercial Airbus A319 aircraft in early January, saying goodbye to the smallest Airbus A320 family member in its fleet (since it never operated the even smaller A318).
Last A319s
According to Flightradar24 records, on January 2, a Spirit Airlines Airbus A319 registered as N536NK flew its final commercial flight from Fort Lauderdale Hollywood International Airport (FLL) to Houston George Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH).
Since then, the airframe, manufacturer serial number (MSN) 4422, has been transported to Coolidge Municipal Airport on January 8.
Another A319, N535NK, met the same fate on January 6, when it made its final commercial trip from San Juan Luis Munoz Marin International Airport (SJU) to Fort Lauderdale. MSN 4403 was then transferred to Houston-Intercontinental on January 7, followed by Coolidge Municipal three days later.
According to Ch-aviation records, the two aircraft are owned by Carlyle Aviation Partners, an aircraft leasing firm based in the United States.
Meanwhile, Coolidge Airport is a servicing center for AIM, a Tucson, Arizona-based maintenance, repair, and overhaul (MRO) services company. The company says it offers breakdown, disassembly, and part-out services.
The two A319s were equipped with International Aero Engines (IAE) V2500 engines. Spirit Airlines had been operating the two since December 2016, after Mexico-based Volaris terminated them from its fleet in October 2016.
Airbus originally delivered the two A319s to the Mexican operator in August 2010. According to ch-aviation, as of September 30, 2024, MSN 4403 had 44,768 flying hours (FH) and 19,498 flight cycles (FC), while MSN 4422 had 43,471 FH and 19,338 FC.
Only leased A319s
Spirit Airlines announced in January 2023 that it had sold 29 unencumbered A319 aircraft powered by IAE V2500 engines to Gryphon Trading Company, an affiliate of Gryphon Aviation Leasing, a US-based leasing company that specializes in three to 15-year-old aviation assets that are serviceable or ready for retirement and disassembly.
The aggregate price ranged from $152 million to $201 million, depending on price modifications mentioned in the two companies’ private agreement.
“Deliveries of the aircraft are anticipated to occur beginning in the first quarter 2023 through the end of the third quarter 2024. The Company expects to remove 14 and 15 A319ceo aircraft from its operating fleet in 2023 and 2024, respectively.”
Spirit Airlines stated that the remaining two A319 aircraft in its inventory, MSN 4403 and MSN 4422, were leased and should be returned to the lessor when the lease expires in 2025.
According to the airline’s full-year Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) report on February 9, 2024, the decision to sell the aircraft came shortly after it opted to hasten the retirement of 29 A319s in Q4 2022.
Selling other A320ceo aircraft
Spirit Airlines said in October 2024 that it had agreed to sell an additional 23 Airbus A320ceo and A321ceo aircraft to GA Telesis, a US-based aerospace asset manager. The aircraft, delivered between 2014 and 2019, cost $519 million. However, the carrier stated that the acquisition will add $225 million to its balance sheet by the end of 2025.
In October 2024, Spirit Airlines announced that it had agreed to sell an additional 23 Airbus A320ceo and A321ceo aircraft to GA Telesis, a US-based aerospace asset manager. The aircraft, delivered between 2014 and 2019, cost $519 million. However, the carrier indicated that the transaction would add $225 million to its financial sheet by the end of 2025.
The court authorized Spirit Airlines to sell the first batch (five) of aircraft involved in the agreement in late November 2024. Only three of the 23 remain in active commercial service: N642NK, N673NK, and N641NK. The remaining were shipped to Phoenix Goodyear Airport (GYR) in late 2024 and early January.
FAQ
Why did Spirit Airlines retire its last Airbus A319?
Spirit Airlines retired its last Airbus A319 to streamline its fleet and transition to more modern, fuel-efficient aircraft. This move is part of their fleet modernization strategy to reduce operational costs and improve overall efficiency.
What aircraft is Spirit Airlines replacing the A319 with?
Spirit Airlines has been replacing its retired A319 aircraft with newer models such as the Airbus A320neo. The A320neo offers improved fuel efficiency, greater capacity, and enhanced environmental performance.
How many Airbus A319 aircraft did Spirit Airlines operate before retiring them?
Prior to retiring its last A319, Spirit Airlines operated a fleet of 31 Airbus A319 aircraft. The retirement is part of the airline’s ongoing effort to modernize its fleet.
What are the benefits of the Airbus A320neo over the A319?
The A320neo offers several key advantages over the A319, including better fuel efficiency, lower maintenance costs, a larger cabin capacity, and quieter engines. These improvements help Spirit Airlines reduce operational costs and improve passenger comfort.
What will happen to the retired Airbus A319 aircraft?
The retired A319 aircraft may be sold, repurposed, or scrapped. Spirit Airlines is likely to sell the aircraft to other airlines or leasing companies, or dismantle them for spare parts to support its remaining fleet.
