N978NK

This entry covers the Airbus airframe registered as N978NK, an Airbus A320-271N built in 2023 with manufacturer serial number 11356. The airframe is owned and operated by Spirit Airlines (airline operator based in the United States) and carries a United States registration. The aircraft entered service in 2023 and remains in the single operator’s fleet, with no public record of other operators or transfers. Valuation and condition highlights: Not published.

The airframe is configured in a high-density single-class all-economy layout as operator-configured, accommodating approximately 180 seats in a compact cabin optimized for short- to medium-haul operations. The flight deck employs the standard Airbus A320 family avionics suite as fitted across the type, supporting modern integrated navigation, flight management and avionics functions. In service with Spirit Airlines, the aircraft is typically used on domestic and transcontinental US missions where high seat density and low unit costs are prioritized, operating from the airline’s US bases. Routine maintenance considerations align with the A320neo family lifecycle and the PW1127G-JM geared turbofan program’s scheduled shop visits and component inspections.

The Airbus A320-271N (a member of the A320neo family) occupies the single-aisle, high-density short- to medium-range market segment, offering improved fuel efficiency with Pratt & Whitney GTF propulsion and increased range versus older A320ceo variants. Competing models include latest-generation narrowbodies from the same family and rival types such as the Boeing 737 MAX series; the A320-271N’s combination of range (3,400 nm) and cruise speed (473 kts) makes it suitable for dense domestic networks and thin long thin transcontinental sectors. For buyers and lessors, considerations include fleet commonality with other A320 family types, the maintenance trajectory associated with PW1127G-JM engines, and the resale demand for high-density, low-cost carrier-configured airframes.