Spirit makes Airbus A-319 primary craft with new planes, drops MD-80s

0 Comments | USA TODAY, September, 2006 | by Jewel Gopwani

Spirit Airlines passengers have seen the last of the linty airplane seat. As part of its plan to boost its image and expand its business, Spirit, the USA's largest privately held airline, this month shed its remaining MD-80 planes, which were 10 to 20 years old. Spirit now flies a new fleet of Airbus aircraft with leather seats, primarily Airbus A-319s with 138 seats in two classes.

Spirit leases the new fleet, which has a total value of $2 billion. The 26 new planes -- and five more on the way by the end of the year -- will allow Miramar, Fla.-based Spirit to add flights, said Spirit Chief Marketing Officer Barry Biffle. From hubs in Detroit and Fort Lauderdale, it serves about 30 cities in the USA, Caribbean, Bahamas and Latin America. Robert Mann, president of airline...