Ruth Haines
Spirit Airlines has been servicing the Atlantic City International Airport (ACY) for over 30 years, but the airline recently announced that it will be closing its crew base at the airport, effective September 1, 2024. This decision comes as a result of several factors, including a decrease in daily flight departures from ACY, engine availability issues, and the airline's efforts to improve financial stability. The closure of the ACY base will impact the 157 Spirit Airlines pilots and flight attendants currently based there, with the airline planning to furlough 260 pilots. Spirit Airlines is reportedly considering opening a new crew base in a larger city in the northeast region.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Reason for leaving Atlantic City Airport | Multiple reasons including decreased average daily flight departures from ACY, ongoing shortage of Pratt & Whitney GTF engines, and engine availability issues |
| Date of leaving | September 1, 2024 |
| Number of pilots to be furloughed | 260 |
| Number of flight attendants | 157 |
| Future plans | Spirit Airlines is "actively evaluating opening a new crew base" in a larger city in the northeast region |
| Current status at Atlantic City Airport | The only airline to offer flights from Atlantic City |
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What You'll Learn
Spirit Airlines to close its crew base at Atlantic City Airport
Spirit Airlines has announced that it will close its crew base at Atlantic City International Airport (ACY) effective September 1, 2024. The decision to close the base, which currently serves as the hub for 157 Spirit Airlines pilots and flight attendants, is due to a combination of factors, including a decrease in average daily flight departures from ACY and challenges with engine availability.
Spirit Airlines has experienced a gradual reduction in its flight schedule from ACY, with an average of 8 to 10 daily departures, depending on the season. Additionally, the airline is facing issues with the availability of Pratt & Whitney GTF engines, which has resulted in the grounding of several aircraft. These factors have contributed to the decision to close the ACY crew base.
The closure of the ACY crew base will have a significant impact on the operations of Spirit Airlines at the airport. The airline has been the sole commercial carrier at ACY, and its departure will likely result in a reduction in flight offerings and pose potential connectivity challenges for the airport. However, a spokesperson for the South Jersey Transportation Authority, which manages the airport, has assured that the closure will not affect flight offerings, and scheduled service at ACY will continue as planned.
Spirit Airlines is actively evaluating opening a new crew base in a larger city in the Northeast region to enhance its coverage. The airline hopes to finalize the new base soon and is working to reset its business and focus on its core operations. The closure of the ACY crew base and the reassignment of staff are part of Spirit Airlines' efforts to bounce back financially after facing setbacks in recent years, including struggles to recover from the COVID-19 pandemic and reporting losses over the past four years.
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Crew base closure linked to Pratt & Whitney GTF engine shortage
Spirit Airlines has decided to close its crew base at Atlantic City International Airport (ACY), effective September 1, 2024. ACY is currently the base for 157 Spirit Airlines pilots and flight attendants. The closure is a result of multiple factors, including a decrease in average daily flight departures from ACY and engine availability issues.
The airline has experienced a gradual reduction in its flight schedule from Atlantic City, with only 8-10 daily departures on average, depending on the season. Additionally, half of these flights are to their largest crew bases in Florida. The grounding of several aircraft due to Pratt & Whitney GTF engine availability issues has further contributed to the decision.
Pratt & Whitney, a leading engine manufacturer, has faced challenges in keeping up with the steeply climbing rate of production at Airbus, its most important commercial engine customer. Labor shortages and supply chain issues have resulted in a significant backlog, impacting the availability of engines for airlines like Spirit.
As a result of the crew base closure, Spirit Airlines plans to furlough 260 pilots, effective September 1. The airline is actively evaluating opening a new crew base in a larger city in the northeast region and aims to finalize the new base soon.
While the closure will impact the operations at Atlantic City International Airport, Spirit Airlines remains committed to serving its customers and will continue to offer flights from various destinations across the United States and international locales.
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Spirit Airlines to furlough 260 pilots
Spirit Airlines has been struggling with financial difficulties and has decided to take action to improve its liquidity. The airline has been unprofitable for several years, with its last full-year profit recorded in 2019.
In April 2024, Spirit Airlines announced that it would be closing its crew base at Atlantic City International Airport (ACY), effective September 1st of the same year. ACY is currently the base for 157 Spirit Airlines pilots and flight attendants. The closure is due to a decrease in average daily flight departures from ACY and engine availability issues. Spirit Airlines has also been dealing with the grounding of aircraft due to Pratt & Whitney GTF engine availability issues.
In addition to closing the ACY base, Spirit Airlines also announced its decision to furlough approximately 260 pilots, effective September 1, 2024. The furloughs are a result of the company's agreement with Airbus to defer aircraft deliveries from the second quarter of 2025 through 2026 to 2030-2031. The deferrals are expected to improve the airline's liquidity by about $340 million over the next two years.
Ryan Muller, head of Spirit's pilot union, expressed concern about the furloughs, stating that they are "deeply troubling" for the pilot group. The union is exploring voluntary measures to reduce the need for furloughs and downgrades. Spirit Airlines' President and CEO, Ted Christie, acknowledged that the steps taken are difficult but necessary to ensure the company's future profitability.
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Spirit Airlines to defer new aircraft deliveries
Spirit Airlines has been undergoing several changes recently, including the decision to close its crew base at Atlantic City International Airport (ACY). The airline has cited several reasons for this move, including a decrease in average daily flight departures from ACY and engine availability issues. This closure will impact 157 Spirit Airlines pilots and flight attendants based at ACY.
In addition to the base closure, Spirit Airlines has also announced its plan to defer new aircraft deliveries from Airbus. The airline has reached an agreement with the European plane manufacturer to delay deliveries of aircraft scheduled for the second quarter of 2025 through 2026 until 2030 and 2031. This deferral is expected to improve Spirit's liquidity by about $340 million over the next two years and provide financial stability as the company adjusts to changes in the competitive environment.
Spirit Airlines' decision to defer new aircraft deliveries is part of its strategy to reset and focus on its core business. By delaying the addition of new aircraft to its fleet, the airline can reduce costs and manage its operations more efficiently. This move comes at a time when the airline is facing challenges with its existing fleet, including issues with Pratt & Whitney Geared Turbofan (GTF) engines, which have resulted in the grounding of some of its A320neo aircraft.
The deferral of new aircraft deliveries will also impact the airline's capacity and growth plans. Analysts at Raymond James have estimated that the revised fleet plan will result in a 7% reduction in capacity in 2025 and a 16% reduction in 2026. This decrease in capacity could potentially impact the airline's revenue generation opportunities. However, Spirit Airlines is actively evaluating opening a new crew base in a larger city in the northeast region to finalize soon.
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Spirit Airlines to open a new crew base in the Northeast
Spirit Airlines has been servicing the Atlantic City Airport for over 30 years. However, the airline has decided to close its crew base at the Atlantic City International Airport (ACY) effective September 1, 2024. This decision is due to several reasons, including decreased average daily flight departures from ACY, engine availability issues, and the ongoing shortage of Pratt & Whitney GTF engines.
Despite this closure, Spirit Airlines is not leaving Atlantic City Airport completely. The airline will continue to offer flights to and from Atlantic City, with an average of 8-10 daily departures depending on the season. Spirit Airlines is currently the only commercial carrier at ACY, providing direct flights to several Florida cities and Myrtle Beach.
In addition to the base closure, Spirit Airlines is also facing financial challenges. The airline has reported losses in each of the past four years and is deferring the delivery of new Airbus planes to save costs. The airline is also furloughing 260 pilots as part of its financial restructuring.
Looking forward, Spirit Airlines is actively evaluating opening a new crew base in the Northeast region of the United States. The airline hopes to finalize a new base in a larger city soon. This new base will provide coverage and improve connectivity for Spirit Airlines in the Northeast. While the exact location of the new base is yet to be determined, this expansion demonstrates Spirit Airlines' commitment to enhancing its operations and providing convenient travel options for its customers.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, Spirit Airlines is closing its crew base at Atlantic City International Airport (ACY) effective September 1, 2024.
Spirit Airlines is leaving Atlantic City Airport due to a decrease in average daily flight departures from ACY, engine availability issues, and financial setbacks. The airline is also facing an ongoing shortage of Pratt & Whitney GTF engines and is deferring the delivery of new Airbus planes to cut costs and bounce back financially.
Spirit Airlines staff at Atlantic City Airport will be reassigned, and the airline is actively evaluating opening a new crew base in a larger city in the Northeast region.
