Image Courtesy: Spirit Airlines
Former pilots from Spirit Airlines are now being hired to ferry the airline’s grounded aircraft to desert storage facilities following the company’s collapse, creating an unusual final chapter for both the airline and many of its employees.
After Spirit abruptly ceased operations following years of financial difficulties, aircraft were left parked at airports across the United States while thousands of employees lost their jobs. Now, aviation services company Nomadic Aviation Group is coordinating efforts to move many of those planes to long-term storage locations in Arizona, according to Simple Flying.
The aircraft are being flown primarily to Goodyear Airport and Pinal Airpark, two well-known aircraft storage sites often referred to as “boneyards.” These facilities are commonly used to store retired, repossessed, or temporarily inactive planes due to the dry desert climate, which helps reduce corrosion.
Nomadic Aviation Managing Partner Bob Allen said the company deliberately chose to hire former Spirit pilots for the ferry flights. Since those pilots are already certified on the aircraft, they can begin work immediately. Allen also said the arrangement offers emotional closure and short-term financial support during a difficult transition.
According to Allen, many pilots feel a strong personal connection to the aircraft they flew for years. He described the experience as similar to “a death in the family,” saying some pilots wanted to participate in the final flights before moving on to other jobs in the aviation industry.
The process also serves an important operational purpose. Aircraft parked at major commercial airports can generate significant storage and parking fees, so lessors and creditors often move them quickly once an airline shuts down. In many cases, leased aircraft are later reassigned to other carriers or dismantled for parts depending on age and condition.
Industry demand for second-hand aircraft remains relatively strong due to ongoing supply chain issues affecting both Boeing and Airbus production. Engine shortages and manufacturing delays have made usable aircraft more valuable in the secondary market.
At least 20 former Spirit pilots have reportedly joined Nomadic Aviation to help relocate the planes, with crews operating from multiple airports around the country. Flight tracking data cited in reports showed several Spirit aircraft being ferried to Arizona storage facilities within a single day.
Allen also used the moment to promote his aviation networking platform, Kittyhawk, which aims to connect displaced pilots with new opportunities across the industry.
While airline bankruptcies and aircraft repossessions are not uncommon, the image of pilots flying their own airline’s planes into storage highlights the human side of aviation collapses. For many of the crews involved, these flights represent both an ending and the start of an uncertain next chapter.
