Spirit to Open 10th Pilot Base in Newark

The announcement comes just weeks after the carrier said it plans to close its base in Atlantic City.

The inaugural Spirit Airlines flight to Cancun pushes back from Austin. (Photo: AirlineGeeks | Mateen Kontoravdis)

[ Pilots ]May 24, 2024 5:11 pm ET

By Ryan Ewing

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.

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Ryan Ewing

Ryan founded AirlineGeeks.com back in February 2013 and has amassed considerable experience in the aviation sector. His work has been featured in several publications and news outlets, including CNN, WJLA, CNET, and Business Insider. During his time in the industry, he's worked in roles pertaining to airport/airline operations while holding a B.S. in Air Transportation Management from Arizona State University along with an MBA. Ryan has experience in several facets of the industry from behind the yoke of a Cessna 172 to interviewing airline industry executives. Ryan works for AirlineGeeks' owner FLYING Media, spearheading coverage in the commercial aviation space.

Follow Ryan

Author

Ryan Ewing

Ryan founded AirlineGeeks.com back in February 2013 and has amassed considerable experience in the aviation sector. His work has been featured in several publications and news outlets, including CNN, WJLA, CNET, and Business Insider. During his time in the industry, he's worked in roles pertaining to airport/airline operations while holding a B.S. in Air Transportation Management from Arizona State University along with an MBA. Ryan has experience in several facets of the industry from behind the yoke of a Cessna 172 to interviewing airline industry executives. Ryan works for AirlineGeeks' owner FLYING Media, spearheading coverage in the commercial aviation space.
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