Spirit Airlines establishing new maintenance hangar at DTW, adding 84 jobs

Spirit Airlines, Inc. to construct a new maintenance hangar at Detroit Metropolitan Airport with support from the MSF and MEDC

LANSING, Mich. – Spirit Airlines, Inc. is constructing a new maintenance hangar at Detroit Metropolitan Airport with support from the Michigan Strategic Fund, the Michigan Economic Development Corporation announced today. The project is expected to generate $31.7 million in new private investment and add 84 new jobs. 

“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,” said MEDC Chief Executive Officer Steve Arwood. “It is through the efforts of the City of Romulus and the Wayne County Airport Authority that these well-paying jobs are coming to Michigan residents, and we are pleased to support that collaboration.”

Spirit Airlines, Inc., a low-fare airline based in Miramar, FL, was founded in 1964 in Michigan as Clippert Trucking Company. The company plans to construct a new 126,000 square foot commercial airline maintenance hangar at Detroit Metropolitan Airport in the city of Romulus, investing approximately $31.7 million and creating 84 jobs related to commercial airline maintenance and repair. As a result, the project has been awarded a $1 million Michigan Business Development Program performance based grant. Michigan was chosen over a competing site in Texas. The city of Romulus has offered support to the project in the form of property tax abatement. For information on careers with Spirit Airlines, visit http://www.spirit.com/CareersHome.aspx.

“Spirit Airlines has a long and proud history with Michigan and specifically Detroit Metropolitan, Wayne County Airport,” said Spirit Airlines President and CEO, Ben Baldanza. “This new hangar will allow our maintenance technicians to more efficiently and more effectively service our planes in a controlled environment. We’re also excited that Spirit will be bringing additional jobs to this community.”

“The city of Romulus is proud to be a part of Spirit Airlines' expansion and investment at Detroit Metropolitan Airport,” said Romulus Mayor LeRoy D. Burcroff. “The incentives we are offering will bring more jobs and investment to not only Romulus, but all southeast Michigan.”

The Wayne County Airport Authority is supporting the project by investing in the site preparation costs at the site as well as surrounding sites to make it development ready.

“It is very gratifying to see the hard work of our team, and the support of our local and state partners, come together to accomplish new development and job growth at our airport,” said Airport Authority CEO Thomas Naughton. “This Spirit Airlines investment is another positive example of what we can achieve working together and the value and importance the business community places on our airport and region.”

The Michigan Business Development Program provides grants, loans and other economic assistance to qualified businesses that make investments or create jobs in Michigan, with preference given to businesses that need additional assistance for deal-closing and for second stage gap financing. 

The MSF considers a number of factors in making these awards, including: out-of-state competition, private investment in the project, business diversification opportunities, near-term job creation, wage and benefit levels of the new jobs, and net-positive return to the state. Business retention and retail projects are not eligible for consideration of these incentives.

Pure Michigan is a brand representing business, talent and tourism initiatives across Michigan. These efforts are driven by the Michigan Economic Development Corporation, which serves as the state’s marketing arm and lead advocate for business growth, jobs and opportunity with a focus on helping grow Michigan’s economy.

About Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC)

The Michigan Economic Development Corporation is the state’s marketing arm and lead advocate for business development, job awareness and community development with the focus on growing Michigan’s economy. For more information on the MEDC and our initiatives, visit www.MichiganBusiness.org. For Pure Michigan® tourism information, your trip begins at www.michigan.org. Join the conversation on: Facebook Instagram LinkedIn, and Twitter.