Detroit Metro Airport to Acquire Spirit Hangar

The court overseeing Spirit's liquidation will rule on the sale next month.

Spirit Airbus A320
A Spirit A320. (Photo: AirlineGeeks | William Derrickson)
Gemini Sparkle

Key Takeaways:

  • Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport (WCAA) submitted the top bid of $18 million to take over the lease for a former Spirit Airlines hangar on its grounds.
  • The WCAA has been informed their offer was the winning bid, but a final determination from the bankruptcy court is pending after August 4th.
  • The 126,000-square-foot hangar, previously Spirit's largest maintenance facility, is being sold along with other assets to repay the airline's creditors after it ceased operations in early May.
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Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport has submitted the top bid for a former Spirit Airlines hangar on the airport’s grounds.

Citing court records, CBS News reported Wednesday that the Wayne County Airport Authority, which owns and operates the airport, agreed to pay $18 million to take over the lease for the hangar. The agency’s offer was deemed the “highest and best,” the documents show.

“We were informed by the bankruptcy court that we submitted the winning bid, but the court will make a final determination after August 4th,” the WCAA said in a statement to CBS News. “We continue to explore all options for the hangar, but it would be premature to make any plans until after the court’s decision.”

According to The Detroit News, the 126,000-square-foot hangar was the largest aircraft maintenance facility in Spirit’s network. Up to 100 technicians worked there until early May, when Spirit ceased operations.

A small core of Spirit employees is overseeing the sale of the carrier’s remaining assets, including hangars, aircraft, equipment, and other infrastructure. The money raised will be used to pay back the company’s creditors.

Zach Vasile

Zach Vasile is a writer and editor covering news in all aspects of commercial aviation. He has reported for and contributed to the Manchester Journal Inquirer, the Hartford Business Journal, the Charlotte Observer, and the Washington Examiner, with his area of focus being the intersection of business and government policy.
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