Spirit announced on Friday the opening of a new crew base for pilots in Newark. This move is set to take effect in September 2024.
Initially, the ultra-low-cost carrier (ULCC) expects to base approximately 200 pilots in Newark, with plans to add supervisors and other support staff in the future. Spirit is the second-largest carrier in Newark with upwards of 32 peak daily departures.
“We’re continuously focused on running a strong, reliable operation, and our growth at EWR paired with the airport’s location in the nation’s largest metropolitan area make Newark ideal for our next Pilot crew base,” said John Bendoraitis, Spirit’s Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer, in a press release.
“Spirit has a long history of serving New Jersey travelers, and this investment reflects our commitment to our Guests and Team Members in the Garden State. We thank the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, Newark Liberty International Airport and our community partners for their continued support,” Bendoraitis continued.
The decision to open a Newark base comes just weeks after the carrier announced plans to close down its domicile in Atlantic City, N.J. Scheduled to take effect on Sept. 1, the base closure impacts approximately 150 pilots and flight attendants.
In early April, Spirit announced plans to furlough about 260 pilots as it defers some aircraft deliveries into the next decade. Last quarter the airline lost nearly $143 million. The newly added Newark base will become the airline’s tenth, joining Atlanta, Chicago, Dallas/Fort Worth, Detroit, Fort Lauderdale, Houston, Las Vegas, Miami, and Orlando.
