I love all the economics and business majors on here who thinks if an airline goes a few years without any new airframes it will just instantly cease to exist lol.

True but Spirit is a growth airline. That’s why people buy the stock. If Spirit isn’t growing they are viewed as leaving money on the table. Legacies aren’t necessarily in the growth business and people buy their stock for different reasons.

A piece of paper on the wall isn’t any more indicative of compentence in a field than that type rating printed on a pilot certificate makes one a good airbus pilot.

Spirit management believes it’s important, and by your reasoning then so should you. They’ve mentioned multiple times that they’re looking for the next purchase. Not just to grow, but to attract investment. They kept the 319’s as a stopgap to fill growth needs until the current growth plan expires in 2021.

You guys do realize that spirit can’t grow forever correct? I understand wanting to grow but I’m just saying 2 or 3 years without new airframes while still printing out the cash is not a big deal. I swear you guys are like regional pilots all googley for shiny new airplanes lol.

Nah I just want my captain upgrade and decent schedule. That's all.

Quick upgrades don’t last forever and if you go to any airline for the only reason of a “quick upgrade” then I would say that is very foolish. Just relax and go with the flow bros.

We’re a long way off from the “can’t grow anymore” phase. I don’t think anyone really cares whether the extra airframes have all the bells and whistles or are used airbuses either. What matters is that smart growth means a healthy company and good things for the pilot group. It’s really that simple. You’re trying to drop this stressing out angle on people, and I haven’t seen a single person wigging out over growth on the line.

We’re a small, growth oriented airline. It’s natural that growth is what we talk about. Maybe one day we can haggle over new routes to Asia like a legacy, but right now that’s what we talk about. And we’rr kinda at the phase where orders need to be placed and announced to garner investment while ensuring airframes show up in a timely manner to continue growth.

Enjoying the ride and talking about new air frames aren’t mutually exclusive ideas.

I dabbled in a few business classes at the community college :p But I do know that a new fleet type (mx parts, cross-training mx, training pilots, lost utilization from plane swaps and crew swaps, etc) is a whole new cost structure that Spirit isn't ready for, nor competent enough to take on. There's a reason why SWA was very successful for so long (and still mostly is), and it wasn't just fuel hedging, 1 fleet type is probably the most cost-advantage way to operate, and Spirit screwed the pooch on that one. (unless they have something in the works to obtain more Airbus)

DFWFLYBOY I think your right. Mgmt screwed the pooch and now two options. Buy another type or be like Fred and Lamont and become scrappers looking for Airbuses on the side of the road bit by bit.
Just call us Sanford and Son Air.

I guess it should also be noted that there are other places to get Airbuses other than directly from Airbus. Perhaps more of like we did with the Mexico 319s in the mean time to “fill the gap” giggity.