Why Spirit Airlines' Jets Are Heading To The Desert

Following Spirit Airlines' shutdown earlier in the month, its fleet of canary yellow jets were left stranded at airports across the United States. Pilot Steve Giordano and his team took on the task of relocating all of Spirit's aircraft within eight days, moving them to two desert storage locations: Marana, just north of Tucson, Arizona, and Goodyear on the west side of Phoenix. The operation required careful coordination of fuel, permits, flight plans, weather briefings, and crew logistics, with only required crew members allowed aboard — no passengers.

The video explains that Spirit, like many modern airlines, did not own the bulk of its fleet outright but instead leased its aircraft. According to court filings, Spirit had 66 planes under lease when it ceased operations. A bankruptcy judge approved the sale of Spirit-owned aircraft to help repay creditors, while lessors sought the return of their leased planes. Before any ferry flight could take place, an FAA representative was required to inspect each aircraft and issue an airworthiness permit.

The crew members who operated these ferry flights took on multiple roles aboard the empty jets, handling everything from piloting to ramp duties, and even consuming leftover Spirit snacks from the galley. The cockpit door remained open throughout flights, creating an unusual atmosphere for those accustomed to normal commercial operations.

The fate of the aircraft varies: some may be leased to other carriers, while others will be parted out. This comes amid broader aerospace supply chain disruptions that IATA estimated were costing the industry an additional $11 billion as of April. Engines are in particularly high demand and short supply — a popular Pratt & Whitney engine rose in value from $11.3 million to $14.5 million between 2021 and January 2024. Spirit's older-tech V2500 engines are noted as still being highly sought after in the market.