The airline stated that the sale of 29 A319-100s to Gryphon Trading Company will generate between $152 million and $201 million, depending on the undisclosed adjustments specified in the agreement. The aircraft will be handed over to the lessor beginning in the first quarter of 2023 and concluding in the third quarter of 2024. The airline plans to retire 14 A319s in 2023 and 15 in 2024.
Spirit Airlines will return the final two aircraft, which are currently leased from Carlyle Aviation Partners, at the end of their lease terms in 2025.
Spirit's A319-100 fleet has an average age of 16.4 years. The two leased aircraft are the youngest in the fleet, with each being 12.5 years old. Most of these aircraft have been operated by Spirit since new, with the exception of three that were bought second-hand from Windjet and the two leased units, which were previously operated by Volaris.
The airline has a firm order with Airbus for 31 A319neos but has not yet revealed the expected delivery timeline. Spirit is one of only four confirmed customers for the A319neo, the smaller variant of the Airbus'A320neo Family, and the only one outside of China. The airline's fleet also includes 64 A320-200s, 69 A320neos (with 50 more on order), and 30 A321-200s. Additionally, it has a firm order for 41 A321neos.
