financetom
Business
financetom
/
Business
/
Spirit Airlines cancels Airbus order in settlement with AerCap
News World Market Environment Technology Personal Finance Politics Retail Business Economy Cryptocurrency Forex Stocks Market Commodities
Spirit Airlines cancels Airbus order in settlement with AerCap
Oct 10, 2025 4:58 PM

NEW YORK (Reuters) -In a fleet optimization move, Spirit Airlines will reject its commitment to buy 52 Airbus planes along with its options for 10 others. The aircraft orders will be taken over by aircraft lessor AerCap ( AER ).

This three-way agreement is part of a dispute settlement between Spirit and AerCap ( AER ), which was approved on Friday by U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of New York.

The conflict with the world's largest aircraft leasing company was the trigger for pushing Spirit into its second bankruptcy.

In late August, AerCap ( AER ) unexpectedly terminated the lease agreements for 36 new Airbus A320neo family jets that were scheduled for delivery to Spirit between 2027 and 2028. It also claimed default on the leases for 37 aircraft already in the carrier's operational fleet.

Spirit disputed the validity of AerCap's ( AER ) claims. But with access to a large portion of its current and future fleet jeopardized, the company was forced to seek bankruptcy protection.

As part of the settlement between the two companies, Spirit will reject 27 out of the 37 leases it holds. AerCap ( AER ), meanwhile, was granted permission to keep and use $9.7 million in cash security deposits that Spirit provided for the canceled aircraft leases.

The Irish leasing giant also has been granted permission to file a total unsecured claim of up to $572 million against Spirit. It is not clear yet how much it will be able to collect on that claim.

Spirit will give up all its rights to the 36 undelivered jets. Additionally, it will sign new lease agreements with AerCap ( AER ) for 30 new Airbus A320 or A321 airplanes for deliveries spread equally across 2027, 2028 and 2029.

As part of the deal, AerCap ( AER ) will make a cash injection of $150 million into the bankrupt airline.

Separately, Spirit said the court has also approved a debtor-in-possession ("DIP") financing facility of up to $475 million from its existing bondholders. Of the total financing, $200 million is immediately available to the carrier.

In a statement, Spirit said the agreement allows it to reduce operating costs by hundreds of millions of dollars.

Spirit plans to shrink its operations to reduce its costs. It has decided to furlough approximately 1,800 flight attendants, about one-third of its cabin crew, effective December 1.

The carrier, which currently operates 214 aircraft, also plans to shrink its fleet by nearly 100 aircraft, nearly half of its fleet.

Comments
Welcome to financetom comments! Please keep conversations courteous and on-topic. To fosterproductive and respectful conversations, you may see comments from our Community Managers.
Sign up to post
Sort by
Show More Comments
Related Articles >
Clearwater Purchase of Enfusion Major Step in Creating Wholesome Software Provider, Morgan Stanley Says
Clearwater Purchase of Enfusion Major Step in Creating Wholesome Software Provider, Morgan Stanley Says
Jan 17, 2025
01:02 PM EST, 01/17/2025 (MT Newswires) -- Clearwater Analytics' ( CWAN ) purchase of Enfusion ( ENFN ) is a major step in creating a comprehensive front-to-back investment management software provider, Morgan Stanley said in a note Friday. Management's projected synergy targets do not fully reflect higher gross margins or revenue synergies, which could generate mid-single-digit earnings per share accretion...
FTC Sues PepsiCo, Alleges Illegal Price Discrimination In Favor Of Big Box Retailer
FTC Sues PepsiCo, Alleges Illegal Price Discrimination In Favor Of Big Box Retailer
Jan 17, 2025
PepsiCo, Inc. ( PEP ) shares are trading slightly higher on Friday. Today, the snacks and beverages behemoth landed in hot water after facing legal action from the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), which alleges that the company has engaged in illegal price discrimination. According to the FTC’s complaint, Pepsi has been providing unfair pricing advantages to one of its largest...
RBC on FDA's Third Tentative Approval For Rifaximin 550mg to Amneal Pharmaceuticals
RBC on FDA's Third Tentative Approval For Rifaximin 550mg to Amneal Pharmaceuticals
Jan 17, 2025
01:03 PM EST, 01/17/2025 (MT Newswires) -- The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has granted a tentative approval to Amneal Pharmaceutical's generic rifaximin (gXifaxan) 550mg abbreviated new drug application (ANDA). RBC notes this is the third such tentative approval for a generic rifaximin 550 mg ANDA. RBC analyst Douglas Miehm forecasts a generic Xifaxan for the irritable bowel syndrome with...
Update: Wells Fargo, Merrill Lynch Agree to Pay $60 Million in SEC Penalties for Cash Sweep Program Violations
Update: Wells Fargo, Merrill Lynch Agree to Pay $60 Million in SEC Penalties for Cash Sweep Program Violations
Jan 17, 2025
01:03 PM EST, 01/17/2025 (MT Newswires) -- (Updates with response from Bank of America ( BAC ) spokesperson in the seventh and eighth paragraphs.) Wells Fargo's ( WFC ) clearing unit will pay a $28 million civil penalty, while its financial advisory subsidiary will pay $7 million, the US Securities and Exchange Commission said Friday. The penalties settle charges that...
Copyright 2023-2026 - www.financetom.com All Rights Reserved