N609NK

This entry covers the specific airframe registered as N609NK, an Airbus narrow-body ordered as an Airbus A320-232 built in 2011 with manufacturer serial number 4951. The aircraft is owned by Spirit Airlines, a United States-based corporation, and carries a US registration; it is operated in the carrier’s high-density fleet configuration. The airframe’s lifecycle to date is characterized by standard mainline passenger usage in a single-class layout and routine operator-directed maintenance under Spirit Airlines’ program. Notable registry actions include its US registration and operator assignment to Spirit Airlines’ domestic network.

This airframe is operated in a high-density single-class configuration, listed as approx. 180 seats and carrier-configured to maximize revenue-seat capacity on short- to medium-haul routes. Avionics and systems are the Airbus-standard fit for the A320-232 family, supporting typical airline operational profiles such as frequent daily rotations, quick turnarounds, and point-to-point sector utilization. Typical missions for this asset under Spirit Airlines are domestic and near-international flights within the aircraft’s 3,300 nm range and cruise profile of 450 kts, operating from the carrier’s United States bases. Configured for high-utilization service, the airframe carries the maintenance implications common to high-density fleet aircraft, including accelerated wear on cabin interiors and components.

The Airbus A320-232 to which N609NK belongs occupies the single-aisle, short- to medium-range market niche, notable for efficient per-seat economics when outfitted in dense layouts. It competes directly with similar variants of the A320 family and later-generation narrowbodies from other manufacturers in airline replacement and growth markets. For operators like Spirit Airlines, buyer and lessee demand is driven by seat-mile cost and fleet commonality; used-aircraft considerations for this airframe include remaining airframe life since 2011, engine overhaul status of the IAE V2527-A5 units, and interior refurbishment needs typical of high-density configurations.