Spirit Airlines Inc. today announced it will construct a nearly $32 million maintenance hanger at Detroit Metropolitan Airport in Romulus, a move that will add about 85 new jobs.
“This new hangar will allow our maintenance technicians to more efficiently and more effectively service our planes in a controlled environment,” says Ben Baldanza, president and CEO of Spirit Airlines.
Spirit was awarded a $1 million Michigan Business Development Program performance based grant along with a property tax abatement from the City of Romulus for the 126,000 square foot hangar.
“Michigan’s economy is soaring ahead, and this new investment by Spirit Airlines underscores Michigan’s greatly improved business climate and a talent pool that can compete with any place in the world,” says Steve Arwood, CEO of the Michigan Economic Development Corp., the state organization that awarded the grant.
Arwood says Michigan was chosen over a competing site in Texas.
Spirit Airlines was initially founded in Michigan as Clipper Trucking Co. in 1964. The airline service was founded in 1980 in Eastpoint as Charter One. The company moved its headquarters to the Ft. Lauderdale area in 1999.
