COMAIR HOLDINGS, parent company of US regional Comair, has agreed to buy low-fare carrier Spirit Airlines. Eastpointe, Michigan-based Spirit flies ten McDonnell Douglas DC-9s and will be operated separately from Comair, which is a Delta Connection carrier.
Spirit is a charter airline, which is expanding into low-fare scheduled operations. The carrier operates from Detroit to Atlantic City, Boston, Cleveland, Philadelphia and destinations in Florida. Comair plans to expand the airline's low-cost operations.
Comair, which already operates a flight-training school and a corporate-charter subsidiary, will pay cash for Spirit, which began operations in 1992.
US start-up carrier Air 21 has merged with International Jet Engine Supply (IJES), receiving a $1.3 million capital infusion. IJES plans to raise additional capital for the unprofitable California-based airline, which began low-fare services in December 1995 with two Fokker F28s.
Source: Flight International
