Spirit Airlines has received bankruptcy-court approval for a multi-tranche debtor-in-possession (DIP) financing facility of up to $475 million from its bondholders. The US low-cost carrier says the facility will provide financial flexibility to support normal operations during its Chapter 11 restructuring. Of the total financing, $200 million is immediately available to Spirit, it says. The US Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of New York also approved Spirit's agreement with AerCap encompassing a $150 million payment from the Irish lessor to the airline, the rejection of 27 aircraft leases, and the resolution of all claims and disputes between the parties. Spirit says the agreement with AerCap will reduce operating costs by "hundreds of millions of dollars" and "provides for the future delivery of 30 aircraft". Of Spirit's 214 aircraft, 166 are leased, fleets data shows. AerCap ranks first in number of aircraft leased to Spirit, with 37 (19 A320neos and 18 A321neos). The carrier has 92 Airbus jets on order, 38 of which are to be leased from AerCap. "With these approvals in place, we are better equipped to build a stronger airline that delivers unmatched value to American consumers," states Spirit chief executive Dave Davis. Spirit's 29 August filing for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection was its second in 10 months.

The European Commission has launched infringement proceedings against Spain over national legislation that restricts airlines from charging for cabin baggage, arguing that this breaches EU law on air services. In a formal notice sent to the Spanish government, the Commission argues that the nation's air navigation law conflicts with Regulation (EC) 1008/2008, which guarantees carriers the freedom to set fares. The Spanish law prohibits airlines from levying additional charges for hand luggage, regardless of size or weight, limiting their ability to differentiate between service tiers, in the Commission's view. Its move follows penalty decisions issued by Spanish authorities against five carriers that applied separate fees for supplementary cabin bags. The Commission contends that these decisions misinterpret a 2014 European Court of Justice (ECJ) ruling in case C-487/12. This clarified that hand baggage meeting reasonable criteria should be free whereas oversized items are subject to pricing freedom. Spain has two months to respond to the Commission's formal notice. If it fails to address the concerns raised, the case could escalate to a reasoned opinion – the next step before potential referral to the ECJ.

The ongoing shutdown of the US federal government has so far not had a significant adverse effect on Delta Air Lines' sales or operations, the US major's president Glen Hauenstein has indicated. "While we are monitoring potential impacts from the US government shutdown, we have not seen a material effect to date," Hauenstein said on 9 October during an earnings call. The shutdown began on 1 October after the US House of Representatives failed to approve a bill providing continuing full-year appropriations for federal agencies. Hauenstein notes that during the past six weeks, Delta's "sales trends have accelerated across all geographies and in every advance purchase window". He estimates that the financial impact of the shutdown on Delta to be "less than a million dollars a day". Last year, the carrier generated $61.6 billion in revenue. Delta's business at Washington National airport was "off" even before 1 October, adds Hauenstein. During the earnings call, Delta chief executive Ed Bastian thanked "the essential aviation workers, the controllers, TSA officers, federal air marshals, and many others who are keeping our system safe and secure during the ongoing government shutdown", adding: "We're hopeful that Congress will act to reopen the government as soon as possible." At a press conference on 6 October, US transportation secretary Sean Duffy confirmed that air traffic control staff must report to work even if the federal government is unable to pay those workers.