US Homeland Security Considered Spirit Airlines Jets for Deportation Use
The US Department of Homeland Security (DHS) reportedly explored a plan to purchase ten aircraft from Spirit Airlines (NK, Fort Lauderdale International) — which is currently under Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection — to support Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) deportation operations and internal government travel, according to The Wall Street Journal.
Sources said DHS Secretary Kristi Noem and senior adviser Corey Lewandowski directed ICE officials to acquire Boeing 737 aircraft from Spirit Airlines. However, Spirit does not operate any Boeing jets; its all-Airbus fleet includes sixty-two A320-200s, ninety-one A320-200Ns, twenty-one A321-200s, and thirty-two A321-200NX aircraft. It remains unclear whether the error regarding aircraft type originated with DHS or the publication.
Upon review, officials discovered that Spirit does not own the aircraft — they are leased — and that the proposed planes lacked engines, which would have to be purchased separately. Spirit is currently in the process of rejecting around 100 leased aircraft as part of its bankruptcy restructuring. Fleets data shows the airline leases 157 aircraft from 19 lessors.
Due to these complications and the high cost of acquiring aircraft compared to chartering, the proposal has been put on hold. However, the DHS recently purchased two Gulfstream G700s for use by the US Coast Guard.
According to ICE, the average cost of a standard deportation charter flight is approximately US$ 8,577 per flight hour, with high-risk operations ranging from US$ 6,929 to US$ 26,795 per hour. Reports earlier this year suggested that DHS was considering building its own aircraft fleet to meet deportation targets of 30,000 to 35,000 individuals per month.
Related News: https://airguide.info/?s=spirit+airlines, https://airguide.info/category/air-travel-business/airline-finance/
Sources: AirGuide Business airguide.info, bing.com, wsj.com