US carrier Spirit Airlines is poised to renew its fleet of 33 McDonnell Douglas DC-9s and Boeing MD-80s.
A group of investors led by Los Angeles-based Oaktree Capital Management has provided the Florida-based airline with $125 million, which Spirit says will be used primarily to buy new aircraft. It is in talks with manufacturers about the acquisition of new narrowbodies to both replace and expand its existing fleet, and aims for a fleet of 60 aircraft.
Spirit founder Ned Homfield recently retired his chairmanship as part of a majority buyout by Oaktree, which gained an undisclosed controlling stake.
Source: Flight International
