Spirit Airlines exits Chapter 11
March 13, 2025
US carrier Spirit Airlines has emerged from its Chapter 11 restructuring process. The Dania Beach, Florida-based carrier had filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in November 2024. Spirit in February won approval for its plan of reorganisation under Chapter 11 bankruptcy from the US Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of New York. "With this approval in place, the company expects to emerge from Chapter 11 in the coming weeks," Spirit said on 20 February. Chief executive Ted Christie will retain his position, as will the rest of the existing executive team, Spirit said on 12 March. "We're pleased to complete our streamlined restructuring and emerge in a stronger financial position to continue our transformation and investments in the guest experience," Christie states. "Throughout this process, we've continued to make meaningful progress enhancing our product offerings, while also focusing on returning to profitability and positioning our airline for long-term success. Today, we're moving forward with our strategy to redefine low-fare travel with our new, high-value travel options." Spirit has reconstituted its board, which includes Christie and new members Robert Milton, David Siegel, Timothy Bernlohr, Eugene Davis, Andrea Fischer Newman and Radha Tilton. It notes that with its emergence from its financial restructuring, it has complete "a consensual, deleveraging transaction that equitises approximately $795 million of funded debt". Spirit adds that it has also received a $350 million equity investment from existing investors to support future initiatives. On 11 February, Spirit reiterated its intention not to merge with Frontier Airlines after the latest proposal and counter-proposal exchanged between the US carriers failed to culminate in an agreement. Spirit said at the time that it will "continue swiftly to advance and conclude its restructuring process, which will significantly deleverage the company and position it for long-term success".
EasyJet implements APU-Zero project to cut fuel and emissions
March 13, 2025
EasyJet plans to implement its APU-Zero project at Milan Malpensa airport following a successful trial in September 2024. The carrier says the initiative involves turning off aircraft Auxiliary Power Units (APUs) during turnarounds and replacing them with electric and hybrid Pre-Conditioning Air Units (PCAs) that connect to the airport's Fixed Electrical Ground Power. The project, developed in collaboration with TCR, PCA manufacturer Guinault, and ground handler Menzies Aviation, with support from SEA Milan airports, aims to reduce fuel consumption, carbon emissions and noise pollution during ground operations. During the trial, which involved 57 aircraft at Milan Malpensa's Terminal 2, EasyJet demonstrated that the PCAs could effectively provide heating, cooling air and power to stationary aircraft. Easyjet director of sustainability Lahiru Ranasinghe states: "This trial, part of our operational efficiencies workstream, resulted in fuel and emissions savings and a reduction in noise, without affecting our operation. This is yet another small but important step that contributes to our broader decarbonisation journey and is an excellent example of an initiative that provides both environmental and business benefits." The airline estimates the full implementation will save approximately 1,150 tonnes of fuel annually, equivalent to 3,600 tonnes of CO2. The rollout will involve deploying 16 PCA units at Milan Malpensa, with six units being added in March, six more in April, and the final four in May 2025.
NTSB warns of 'intolerable' safety risk at Washington National Airport
March 12, 2025
The US National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has asked the US Federal Aviation Administration to permanently prohibit helicopter operations near Ronald Reagan Washington National airport when runways 15 and 33 are in use, and to designate an alternative helicopter route. Not doing so poses "an intolerable risk to aviation safety by increasing the chance of a midair collision", the NTSB says in an "urgent safety recommendation report" released in tandem with a preliminary report on the 29 January fatal collision of a US Army Sikorsky H-60 Black Hawk helicopter and a PSA Airlines MHIRJ CRJ700 regional jet (operating flight 5342 for American Airlines) on final approach to Washington National's runway 33. The collision killed 67 passengers and crew on both aircraft. The NTSB notes in the urgent safety report that preliminary findings suggest that the existing separation distances between helicopters transiting the Route 4 helicopter corridor and aircraft landing on runway 33 are insufficient.