Defined Contribution 401(k) Plan

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2017

Retirement Benefits [Abstract]

Defined Contribution 401(k) Plan

Defined Contribution 401(k) Plan

The Company sponsors three defined contribution 401(k) plans, Spirit Airlines, Inc. Employee Retirement Savings Plan (first plan), Spirit Airlines, Inc. Pilots’ Retirement Savings Plan (second plan) and Spirit Airlines, Inc. Puerto Rico Retirement Savings Plan (third plan). The first plan is for all employees that are not covered by the pilots’ collective bargaining agreement, who have at least 60 days of service and have attained the age of 21. The Company may make a Qualified Discretionary Contribution, as defined in the plan, or provide matching contributions to this plan. For flight attendants and dispatchers participating in the first plan, the Company currently matches 100% of the employee's contribution, up to a maximum of 6% of the employee's annual compensation. Prior to May 1, 2016, the Company matched 50% of the flight attendant and dispatcher's contribution, up to a maximum of 6% of the employee's annual compensation. For all other employees participating in the first plan, the Company matches 50% of the employee’s contribution, up to a maximum of 6% of the employee’s annual compensation.

The second plan is for the Company’s pilots, and contains the same service requirements as the first plan. Throughout 2017, the Company matched 100% of the pilot's contribution, up to 9% of the individual pilot's annual compensation. Both the first and the second plans are subject to the annual IRS elective deferral limit, which was $18,000 for 2017.

The third plan is for all Company employees residing in Puerto Rico and was adopted on April 16, 2012. It contains the same service requirements as the first and second plans. For pilots participating in the Puerto Rico plan, the Company matched 100% of their contribution, up to 9% of the individual pilot's annual compensation, but subject to the annual Puerto Rico pre-tax elective deferral limit, which was $15,000 for 2017. For all other employees participating in the Puerto Rico plan, the Company matches 50% of the employee's contribution, up to 6% of the employee's annual compensation.

Matching contributions made to all plans were $19.6 million, $16.2 million and $12.5 million in 2017, 2016 and 2015, respectively, and were included within salaries, wages and benefits in the accompanying statements of operations.