More info. In 2011, we are getting 4 A320s and 1 A319. I was not aware about this A319 but it is suppose to come in December 2011. So the A320 listed for December 15th counts as for a 2010 order. It looks like we were not able to convert all of our A319s into A320s. There is also 7 A319 listed in 2012 versus 4 A320s for the same year.

 

good stuff

 

So here is the proof: Photos: Airbus A320-232 Aircraft Pictures | Airliners.net

 

Great. Now if we could just get contract mx to stop playing bumper cars with our airplanes we may actually grow a bit.

 

With oil at 90 + and climbing, I wouldn't bet on major growth. Doesn't bode well for an IPO either.

 

There's something to be said when every other carrier out there is gauging their growth cautiously next year; meanwhile, Spirit is bucking the trend to "go it alone" with their plans to hire around 100 pilots next year. What does Spirit managment know that other, well run airlines don't know?

The IPO was suppose to take place this month. Why hasn't it? Good luck getting institutional investors to take a chance on a 30-jet airline with even the slightest perception that oil is on the rise.

I believe you are correct PlaneRamrod. I have no doubt that in the near future Spirit and most other airlines out there will be talking about hunkering down, instead of launching hiring plans on a mass scale.

I would rather see Spirit hunker down, conserve their cash, and fortify their core markets (including increasing Colombia frequencies), rather than attempt to "expand" and "stimulate demand" into markets where no one has a clue how it's gonna go. It may work, it may not. But with oil on the rise, its easy to burn through cash quickly. And yes, I'm specifically talking about garden spots like Latrobe and Charleston, WV.

Please...

 

I think they are going to be short-lived, just like CAE, or SAT (I don't even think we made one single flight).

I agree that the money for now still lays with in the Caribbean, C. America and S. America.

The oil always goes crazy a week prior to the fat man in a red suit. I don't believe it is and indication on next year's aviation futures, but I agree, it is important to be cautious.

5 AC's or so next year, it's going to be just under 20% growth, I think its pretty conservative in my opinion.

About the IPO, I would have loved to have seen that this yr, but Im sure that
NKS management has more info and reasons to delay the process than the ones we can think of.

Happy Holidays.

 

Good thoughts Sailor...

Oil can rise this time of year as inventories are reduced in an attempt to "soften" year-end tax implications. We feel it at the fuel pump in the form of higher gas prices.

The point I'm trying to make is that Spirit is different from other carriers by a wide margin. Our model is different, our operation is different. We're very small and exposed to "short term stuff" that potentially affects the bottom line. We can't just go out there and say we're gonna hire 100+ pilots and have guys banking on that to come true.

Spirit doesn't have the size, the cash reserves, the pricing power, or the ability to strongarm creditors and suppliers like the big boys have. Some may call that view negative and that's alright. But, it's a realistic view. On the positive side, Spirit DOES have the capability to nimbly adjust their operation in case of another economic downturn easier than the big boys. We proved that back in 2008 by giving up 7 aircraft and recovering the operation...one could say, Spirit came "back from the brink."

Those that want to be newhires at Spirit need to seriously weight the positives and negatives about flying for an operaton like this.

Merry Christmas

 

I would rather work at a company with the lowest costs when oil spikes than a company with much higher costs, thats just common sense.

I love how pilots all of a sudden become financial experts on these web forums. Not a one of us knows anything about Spirits financials. They are a private company.

 

Don't take this the wrong way scott, but both of those statements are a bit on the naive side... I see where your coming from but...... I'll just leave it at that

NK is what it is, not a legacy carrier but an ULCC with its strenghts and faults. For us that are at NK, we know it and live with it.

I will add; if you live in SE Florida, I think it is a really good place to work with a lot of potentional?????

Merry Christmas