Spirit Airlines Grounds 25 A320 Family Aircraft for Inspections

Spirit Airlines (NK), the US-based low-cost carrier, has temporarily grounded 25 Airbus A320 Family aircraft to conduct inspections, citing an “abundance of caution.” The move has impacted the airline’s flight schedules, with necessary checks underway. Here are the key details:

Inspection Details:

• Spirit Airlines has removed 25 planes from service to perform inspections on airframe brackets as a precautionary measure.
• The inspections are considered necessary, and the airline has stated that the checks will affect its flight schedules.
• The decision to ground the aircraft is described as an “abundance of caution” by Spirit Airlines.

Operational Impact:

• The airline acknowledges that the inspections will have an impact on its network, and the disruption is expected to last for several days.
• Flight cancellations were reported, with a notable peak on October 20, when 11% of Spirit’s flights were canceled.
• Subsequent days witnessed a gradual reduction in the cancellation rate, reaching 1% on October 23 and even lower the following day.

Reason for Grounding:

• While Spirit Airlines has dealt with the recall of certain Pratt & Whitney PW1100G engines in its fleet, the recent grounding is reported to be related to inspections of airframe brackets for potential fatigue cracks.
• These inspections apply to first-generation A320 Family aircraft, excluding the newer A320neo types.

Aircraft Types Affected:

• Spirit Airlines operates a fleet of 207 narrowbody aircraft, including various models within the A320 Family.
• The affected aircraft include sixty-two A320-200s and thirty A321-200s, along with other models such as A319-100s, A320-200Ns, and A321-200NX.

Response and Duration:

• Spirit Airlines has not specified the duration required to complete the inspections of the 25 aircraft.
• The airline emphasizes addressing any identified issues before returning the grounded aircraft to service.
• No details were provided in response to inquiries seeking further information on the situation.

Spirit Airlines’ cautious approach to inspections aligns with its commitment to safety, and the airline aims to address any potential concerns before resuming normal operations. The duration of the inspection process and subsequent updates from Spirit Airlines will be closely monitored in the aviation industry.