Where Spirit Airlines' Jets Are Headed After Bankruptcy

Posted on 05/16/2026
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When Spirit Airlines shut down earlier this month, its fleet of dozens of leased planes was left stranded all over the country. Now, the canary yellow Airbus planes need a place to go. Several pilots, like Steve Giordano, are taking aircraft back from Spirit Airlines and moving them from various airports to the deserts of Arizona. Some of these planes could be leased to other airlines, while others may be dismantled and sold for parts. CNBC's Leslie Josephs has the story.

Produced by: Juhohn Lee, Erin Black
Reporting by: Leslie Josephs
Edited by: Meline Rosales
Animation: Christina Locopo
Senior Director of Video: Jeniece Pettitt
Additional Footage: Getty Images, Steve Giordano

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Where Spirit Airlines' Jets Are Headed After Bankruptcy