Originally Posted by Busdriver2

I keep seeing 14,000 jobs on the line. Divided by 75 planes, that’s 186 employees per plane. Does this seem off to anyone else ?

Originally Posted by ClappedOut145

They have less than 10,000

Originally Posted by JoeBlo

So what’s going to change if spirit gets the 500 mil?

they all of a sudden going to be profitable?

Im all for saving jobs but spirit management squandered profits away for years when every other airline made **** tons of money. That behavior does not deserve a govt handout reward.

Originally Posted by sky jet

While the government has selectively helped other airlines in the past, I believe this would be the first time that the American people would gain such a large equity stake in an airline after giving it a lifeline. Leaving aside the questions of helping one ailing carrier and not all of them, how does the government (FAA, Commerce, EPA, etc.) oversee an entity that it owns? The conflict of interest is mind blowing. I know some will use the example of Chrysler back in the day but while the auto industry is pretty regulated, that amount of regulation pales in comparison to the airline industry. Just consider management positions. Director of Operations and such. The FAA has very strict experience requirements to hold those post and also has the right to reject candidates that it feels are not qualified. What about the financial fitness reports that are required by law. Can a government owned airline ever be found unfit? How is that not a competitive advantage? How does the government not take its stake into account when making those decisions? There are so many landmines here that not even a mouse could make it through.

Originally Posted by FriendlyPilot

Spirit market cap is $50M. Paying $500M for a 90% ($45M) stake is a BAD deal.

Originally Posted by RJSAviator76

On one hand, I'm happy for the employees. On the other hand, what message does it send to the rest of the airline industry... can our airlines now be reckless with their finances and expect bailouts when that financially reckless behavior doesn't pan out? What's the incentive for doing the right thing?

In 2008, Aloha, ATA, Champion, Skybus all shut down within days of each other. ZFG by the government. What's so special about Spirit especially with other, stronger airlines hanging on? If anything, it's a cautionary tale. Personally, I think the government should stay the hell out of any mergers or "antitrust" issues - if businesses want to buy each other or merge, that's none of the government's business. The only thing I trust the government to do correctly and efficiently is to kill people and screw up a black cup of coffee.... The market finds a way. The government screws it all up.