Spirit Airlines (NK, Fort Lauderdale International) has taken delivery of its first of thirty-two A321-200neo with A321-200NX N981NK (msn 11433) arriving at Detroit Metropolitan from the Airbus plant at Mobile Downtown on May 31. On lease from AerCap, the jet is powered by Pratt & Whitney PW1133G-JMs and features 227 economy and eight business class seats.
As of April 26, 2023, Spirit said it expected to add five more A321neo during the third quarter of the year followed by two more in the final quarter, for a total of eight in 2023. Thereafter, it expects 24 in 2024 (four in 1Q24, six in 2Q24, nine in 3Q24, and five in 4Q24) for a total of 32. However, it has since warned that it has been notified that a number of the aircraft originally scheduled for delivery in 2023 and 2024 will be delayed into 2024 and 2025, respectively.
"Given supply chain delivery issues, the schedule of aircraft deliveries continues to be fluid and subject to change," Spirit said in its 1Q23 financials. "Our total firm aircraft purchase commitments remains unchanged. As of March 31, 2023, we had secured financing for the 16 aircraft scheduled for delivery from Airbus through 2024, which will be financed through sale leaseback transactions."
A321neo operations are due to start in August.
The Floridian LCC also operates twenty-seven A319-100s (to be retired by YE25), sixty-four A320-200s, seventy-seven A320-200Ns, and thirty A321-200s. Orderbook-wise, it has thirty-one A319-100Ns, three A320neo, and forty-one A320neo still due from Airbus. The A320neo Family purchases will be financed through direct leases with third-party lessors.
