Spirit Airlines (NK, Fort Lauderdale International) will resume deliveries of its A320neo order in mid-2019, Chief Financial Officer (CFO) Ted Christie III has confirmed. The Florida-based ultra-low-cost-carrier had suspended their acceptance in April last year after protracted issues with the Pratt & Whitney PW1127G powerplant had impacted the performance of the five A320neo that were delivered in 2016/17.
In January this year, UTC Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Greg Hayes, confirmed that every GTF engine leaving the Pratt & Whitney plant now featured two major fixes - namely the #3 seal and an improved combustor liner. However, the most significant challenge in 2018 will now be to overhaul those affected engines that have already been delivered.
According to Christie, that particular issue has now been taken care of.
"...all five of our NEO aircraft are fully operational and we and Pratt have reached an agreement that, we believe, provides us with the support and modifications needed for a high utilization, high-reliability operator," he said in a recent earnings call. "And we are very excited about how that aircraft will not only expand our operating cost advantage from a fuel burn perspective, but will also open up considerable route opportunities through the enhanced range capability of the NEO."
As it stands, Spirit is due to add three A320neo during the third quarter of 2019 followed by six more due during the final quarter of that year. Thereafter, a further sixteen of the type are due in 2020 followed by eighteen in 2021.
Spirit also operates thirty-one A319-100s, fifty-two A320ceo, and twenty-five A321ceo.
