Originally Posted by bubi352

I am hearing Spirit is buying 7 gates in ORD. Anyone could chime on that? From what I hear also, there is supposedly going to be a big announcement in 3 weeks. Could it be finally the IPO?

Originally Posted by Normann

Exactly. Imagine 2011 becomes a double dip scenario. I am not saying it will be but there is a significant chance. The bottom of the new hires will be on the street just like we were in 2008. Many of us went to Spirit in 2008 leaving good seniority behind at a regional. I had a 170 left seat award in my packet and would have been able to hold on to it through the recession making $70k or so. Instead I made $15k per year on furlough for almost two years. So far Spirit has cost me at least $110k, two years of my life, and my jet PIC. That was one heck of an expensive A320 type. All my fault.

I am very excited about growth and the "potential" of Spirit because there is potential here. I am all over every single delivery. But the reality is oil has been trading above $90 for the past 2 months. $20 from the panic button. Spirit and everyone else will need cash to fly through the peak if it goes higher. Right now it seems they are conserving their resources and I am very happy about that.

Originally Posted by yournamehere

who cares what oil goes to, they be hedged Bernake....

Originally Posted by Normann

and hedging is free Einstein

Originally Posted by yournamehere

no, not free, but thanks for the compliment.

Originally Posted by Normann

It started on the biatchboard as 20 airplanes by the end of 2011. I think. Then it went to one each month starting September 2010. This was right below "50 downgrades if we sign the TA". Along with merger rumors and whatever else you can dream up like that we will be doing 2 month bidding in 2011. Of course none of it became true.

With oil being unpredictable I would rather have 5 instead of 12. Even 5 airplanes means a 15% expansion for this year. Sounds good to me. I don't want them to stretch their finances too thin. However if they go ahead with the IPO and get some good response from investors, deliveries could change dramatically. But that is an "if" after another "if". The last thing I have heard from Ben directly (meaning: him talking to me at the gate) was a few weeks ago. 2 more in Feb and 2 more later this year. Kind of like 2010.

Originally Posted by Lost Lemming

Also any specific info on the financial position of the airlines - e.g. leverage ratios, debt interest coverage ratios etc (I don't want to get thrown to the bottom of a seniority list for the third time! )

Originally Posted by serhito

We bearly know the company's phone number...
Privately held company, so no such info available.

Originally Posted by Lost Lemming

I heard today that Spirit are just starting a big recruitment push. Also reported to be hiring on pilotjobsnews.com (not sure how reliable that is) - does anybody know exact figures on planned hires? Also any specific info on the financial position of the airlines - e.g. leverage ratios, debt interest coverage ratios etc (I don't want to get thrown to the bottom of a seniority list for the third time! )