Spirit Airlines on Monday welcomed the first American-made Airbus A320 aircraft to its fleet during a ceremony at its new $32 million hangar and maintenance facility at Detroit Metropolitan Airport.
The new plane, dubbed NK650, was manufactured at an Airbus factory in Mobile, Ala. It is expected to officially enter service in the fall, an airline spokesman said.
"This new aircraft shows our commitment to delivering the cleanest, state-of-the-art [planes] to our customers, as we continue to offer the lowest fares in the industry," said Ted Christie, executive vice president and chief financial officer, in a statement.
The low-cost carrier"™s latest A320 plane will offer single-aisle configuration with 182 passenger seats. The A320 aircraft type entered airline service in April 1988 and are popular around the industry for operating short to medium-haul flights, Airbus said.
NK650 is the second milestone aircraft delivery for Spirit in less than a year. In October, the Miramar-based carrier was the first U.S. airline to take delivery of an Airbus A320neo aircraft outfitted with a Pratt & Whitney PurePower Geared Turbofan fuel-efficient engine that uses less fuel, runs quieter and produces fewer emissions.
The new aircraft deliveries are part of Spirit"™s long-term growth plans. And more are coming…
