B. Ben Baldanza appointed as chief executive officer of Spirit Airlines

Spirit Airlines has announced that B. Ben Baldanza will assume the position of chief executive officer. Baldanza joined the company as president in January 2005.

The airline announced that the retirement of Jacob Schorr as chief executive officer. Schorr will continue in his position as chairman of the board. Schorr joined Spirit in 1997 as both an investor and as chief information officer. In April of 2000, he assumed the position of chief executive officer.

Spirit Airlines appointed a new chief executive officer to oversee the company as it moves through a $2 billion refurbishment programme to replace its aging fleet.

As per the information available, despite losing millions of dollars last year and facing battles with pilot and flight attendant unions over staffing, the airline is undergoing a period of rapid expansion domestically and abroad as it seeks to challenge dominant low-cost carriers Southwest Airlines and JetBlue Airways.

Baldanza reportedly said the leadership change is the evolution of a plan in the works since he was brought on board last year.

“The change in leadership is indicative of support for the direction of Spirit, the business model that we’re actively pursuing,” Baldanza said. “We re going to make changes toward growing our international presence, finishing the fleet transition and providing great low fares with full frills in our airline.”

According to a media report, Spirit does not discuss its earnings, but the company did receive $100 million in new financing, led by Oaktree Capital Management LLC and Goldman Sachs Credit Partners LP, last July. Much of that was dedicated to securing new aircraft. “As head of the largest privately owned airline in the country, Baldanza, 44, said he plans to keep Spirit on its present course of holding the line on costs, offering attractive fares and seeking to compete successfully with the legacy carriers such as Delta Air Lines and US Airways,” reported www.sun-sentinel.com.

Fort Lauderdale-based Spirit Airlines with hubs in Detroit and Fort Lauderdale offers service to 30 cities in the United States, the Bahamas, and the Caribbean.