Two Spirit planes and four gates at Philadelphia International Airport sit idle after the airline ceased operations and suspended all flights on May 2, writes Emma Dooling for the Philadelphia Business Journal.
Due to its smaller presence in the region, the closure will likely not result in a significant long-term impact at local airports.
According to filings in Spirit’s Chapter 11 bankruptcy case, the Florida-based carrier is looking for court approval to shed its aircraft. Any leased aircraft would be returned to their leasing companies, and any planes Spirit owns will be abandoned or sold.
Spirit used four preferential use gates at Terminal E in PHL, according to PHL spokesperson Heather Redfern. These gates are assigned primarily to a specific airline. When the primary carrier is not using the gate, other carriers may use it.
The City of Philadelphia is monitoring Spirit’s ongoing bankruptcy, with no current plans to reassign the airline’s gates.
Brett Snyder, founder of airline industry blog Cranky Flier and aviation veteran, said the process of reallocating gates differs depending on the airport.
Snyder said the Spirit shutdown will have “little to no impact” on the airport, with its routes for this month already served by other airlines at PHL.
Read more about Spirit’s shutdown and how it will impact Philadelphia International Airport in the Philadelphia Business Journal.
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