Spirit Switches to Airbus Fleet

[mobuto]

By Amy Yee
Published: March 20 2004 4:00 | Last Updated: March 20 2004 4:00

Spirit Airlines, the US low-fare carrier, is to replace its entire fleet with up to 95 Airbus aircraft in a deal that could be worth $5bn.


Spirit said yesterday it had committed to 35 aircraft, worth about $2bn, with the option to buy 60 more. The airline will begin to replace aircraft in the next 60 days.

The orders are an encouraging sign for the growth of US low-fare airlines such as AirTran and Southwest, which have expanded in spite of the downturn in the airline industry over the past three years.

--continued--

Not a huge contract, but still more good news for Boeing.

http://news.ft.com/servlet/ContentServer?pagename=FT.com/StoryFT/FullStory&c=StoryFT&cid=1079419801078

[mr_hat]

1. How is that good news for Boeing?

[mobuto]

6. I was being sarcastic

the lowest form of humor.

[KDLarsen]

2. Good news for Boeing?

.. as far as I know, they didn't even bother to go into this deal. Apparently, if Spirit was going to buy Boeings, they wouldn't be able to recieve them until 2005, while Airbus is ready to deliver this year.

A good discussion in this thread, with some good reasons for why Boeing didn't go into talks with Spirit: http://www.airliners.net/discussions/general_aviation/read.main/1465559

[no_arbusto]

3. Oh no, not the FRENCH!

What will the freepers think?

[KDLarsen]

4. Hmm...

... perhaps it'll be evened out if Spirit decides to sell Freedom Fries onboard.

The truth, though, is that around 90% of the travelling public haven't got a clue about what type of aircraft they're flying.Then there's people like me who have detailed charts for each flight I've ever done :eyes:

[Florida_Geek]

7. They like most people will Smile as they get

the cheap fair. They like most people paying for their own ticket look for price.

[BlueMole]

5. Just Returned

from vacation on Airbus aircraft. A320, A319. Coach of course. Much more comfortable than any Boeing aircraft - except the 747. Flew a 777 to Europe 3 years ago and it is a torture chamber. The giant A3XX could bury Boeing for the long haul business.

The BlueMole :beer: