Spirit Airlines ordering more than 100 jetliners with improved seating
Spirit Airlines passengers will get the improved seating the company promised earlier this year as the discount carrier announced it is ordering more than 100 new Airbus jetliners with seats that are easier on the back while offering more legroom in the cabin.
The announcement comes after the company declared its intention last week to move its headquarters from Miramar to Dania Beach near Fort LauderdaleHollywood International Airport.
“This new order represents another milestone for Spirit,” said Spirit Airlines President and CEO Ted Christie. “The additional aircraft will be used to support Spirit’s growth as we add new destinations and expand our network across the U.S, Latin America and the Caribbean.”
Spirit says it has one of the youngest fleets in the industry with an average aircraft age of 5.6 years. Spirit currently operates 138 Airbus A320 aircraft. It said it has seven new ones scheduled for delivery by year-end, bringing its fleet count to 145. In 2020 and 2021, Spirit will take on 48 more.
The deliveries of the all of the planes will take place through the end of 2027. The airline also agreed to an option to buy up to 50 more. Spirit operates an all-Airbus fleet.
The airline said that in December, it plans to unveil an aircraft cabin redesign as part of a program to improve customer service.
The redesign is aimed at improving the look and feel of the interior. The new seats will feature thicker padding, “ergonomically-designed lumbar support,” and a fullsize tray table.
Middle seats will gain another inch of width, and “every seat will gain nearly an inch of pre-recline compared to Spirit’s current seating configuration, with exit rows adding even more,” the company said.
In another development, Spirit reported better-thanexpected profits and revenue for its third quarter. The results came despite major flight disruptions caused by Hurricane Dorian.
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