Delta is moving in on Spirit Airlines’ former turf at Hartsfield-Jackson, emerging as the leading bidder for two Concourse C gates and an adjoining ticketing lobby. The offer, pegged at $12 million, comes as Spirit’s remaining airport leases are carved up in bankruptcy court after the carrier ceased operations in early May.
What Delta Is Bidding For
A federal bankruptcy filing shows Delta has put $12,000,000 on the table to take over gates C4 and C6, along with Spirit’s ticketing lobby and related support space, according to Atlanta News First. The filing notes that Spirit contacted roughly 10 potential buyers about the package. Delta and one other unidentified bidder submitted offers, with Delta’s bid currently in the lead. According to Atlanta News First, the debtors plan to seek court approval of the proposed sale.
Court Filings And Sale Procedures
The competing offers are laid out in a Bidding Procedures motion and related assumption notices filed in Spirit’s bankruptcy case. Those documents detail how the airline’s non-fleet assets and airport leases will be sold or assigned. The debtors’ “First Notice of Assumption” and associated sale filings list a City of Atlanta airport use and lease agreement among the contracts at issue, and they are available on the debtors’ case website. The filings can be viewed on Epiq.
What It Means For Travelers
Other airlines have already stepped in to pick up some of the flying Spirit left behind, but an analysis by the Atlanta Journal-Constitution shows a net loss of seats on certain routes even after those schedule additions. Spirit has said its decision to wind down operations followed a sharp rise in jet fuel prices and mounting financial pressures that made continuing service impossible, and that wind-down began May 2, according to AP News.
Next Steps
Objections to the proposed sale must be filed by July 1, and a hearing on the transactions is set for July 8, according to the bankruptcy filing cited by Atlanta News First. Airport officials have emphasized that any lease transfer remains subject to court approval, and Delta has not yet confirmed how it would use the additional gates and ticketing space. The July hearing will determine whether those former Spirit positions officially become part of Delta’s footprint or stay in play for further bidding and objections.
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