Spirit Airlines Receives Court Approval of First Day Motions; Operations Continue in the Normal Course

Flights, Ticket Sales, Reservations and All Other Operations Continue Without Interruption 

DANIA BEACH, Fla., Nov. 19, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Spirit Airlines, Inc. ("Spirit" or the "Company") today announced that it has received approval from the United States Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of New York (the "Court") for all of its requested "first day" relief in support of its prearranged chapter 11 process. Among other benefits, this relief ensures that Spirit's Team Members, vendors and other counterparties will continue to be paid in full in the ordinary course of business and that Guests can continue to book and fly without interruption and use all tickets, credits and loyalty points as normal.  

"We are pleased with the Court's decision to grant all of this important relief, which affirms our ability to continue operating seamlessly during our streamlined restructuring process," said Ted Christie, Spirit's President and Chief Executive Officer. "I want to thank our Guests, Team Members and business partners for their continued support as we position Spirit for long-term success. We look forward to emerging as a stronger company and continuing to execute on our strategic initiatives to transform our Guest experience." 

As previously announced, Spirit entered into a restructuring support agreement (the "RSA") supported by a supermajority of its loyalty and convertible bondholders on the terms of a comprehensive balance sheet restructuring that would equitize $795 million of funded debt and provide $350 million of fully committed equity capital upon emergence. The restructuring will be effectuated through a plan of reorganization (the "Plan") that is subject to confirmation by the Court. The Company expects to emerge from its streamlined chapter 11 process in the first quarter of 2025. 

Additional Information  

Additional information about the Company's chapter 11 case, including access to Court filings and other documents related to the restructuring process, is available at https://dm.epiq11.com/SpiritGoForward or by calling Spirit's restructuring information line at (888) 863-4889 (U.S. toll free) or +1 (971) 447-0326 (international). Additional information is also available at www.SpiritGoForward.com. 

Advisors   

Davis Polk & Wardwell LLP is serving as the Company's restructuring counsel, Alvarez & Marsal is serving as restructuring advisor, and Perella Weinberg Partners LP is acting as investment banker.     

About Spirit Airlines
Spirit Airlines is a leading low-fare carrier committed to delivering the best value in the sky by offering an enhanced travel experience with flexible, affordable options. Spirit serves destinations throughout the United States, Latin America and the Caribbean with its Fit Fleet®, one of the youngest and most fuel-efficient fleets in the U.S. Spirit is committed to inspiring positive change in the communities it serves through the Spirit Charitable Foundation. Discover elevated travel options with exceptional value at spirit.com.

Investor Inquiries:
Spirit Investor Relations
[email protected]  

Media Inquiries:
Spirit Media Relations
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FGS Global
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Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward Looking Statements 
This press release contains various forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Securities Act"), and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "Exchange Act") which are subject to the "safe harbor" created by those sections. Forward-looking statements are based on our management's beliefs and assumptions and on information currently available to our management. All statements other than statements of historical facts are "forward-looking statements" for purposes of these provisions. In some cases, you can identify forward-looking statements by terms such as "may," "will," "should," "could," "would," "expect," "plan," "anticipate," "believe," "estimate," "project," "predict," "potential," and similar expressions intended to identify forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, statements regarding Spirit's expectations with respect to operating in the normal course, the Chapter 11 process, the DIP and potential delisting of Spirit's common stock by the New York Stock Exchange. Forward-looking statements are subject to risks, uncertainties and other important factors that could cause actual results and the timing of certain events to differ materially from future results expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Factors include, among others, risks attendant to the bankruptcy process, including the Company's ability to obtain court approval from the Court with respect to motions or other requests made to the Court throughout the course of Chapter 11, including with respect the DIP; the effects of Chapter 11, including increased legal and other professional costs necessary to execute the Company's restructuring process, on the Company's liquidity (including the availability of operating capital during the pendency of Chapter 11); the effects of Chapter 11 on the interests of various constituents and financial stakeholders; the length of time that the Company will operate under Chapter 11 protection and the continued availability of operating capital during the pendency of Chapter 11; objections to the Company's restructuring process, the DIP, or other pleadings filed that could protract Chapter 11; risks associated with third-party motions in Chapter 11; Court rulings in the Chapter 11 and the outcome of Chapter 11 in general; the Company's ability to comply with the restrictions imposed by the terms and conditions of the DIP and other financing arrangements; employee attrition and the Company's ability to retain senior management and other key personnel due to the distractions and uncertainties; risks associated with the potential delisting or the suspension of trading in its common stock by the New York Stock Exchange, the impact of litigation and regulatory proceedings; and other factors discussed in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K and subsequent quarterly reports on Form 10-Q filed with the SEC and other factors, as described in the Company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including the detailed factors discussed under the heading "Risk Factors" in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2023, as supplemented in the Company's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the fiscal quarters ended March 31, 2024 and June 30, 2024. Furthermore, such forward-looking statements speak only as of the date of this release. Except as required by law, we undertake no obligation to update any forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances after the date of such statements. Risks or uncertainties (i) that are not currently known to us, (ii) that we currently deem to be immaterial, or (iii) that could apply to any company, could also materially adversely affect our business, financial condition, or future results. Additional information concerning certain factors is contained in the Company's Securities and Exchange Commission filings, including but not limited to the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K, Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, and Current Reports on Form 8-K. 

SOURCE Spirit Airlines, Inc.