Defined Contribution 401(k) Plan

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2019

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 second plan is for the Company’s pilots, and contains the same service requirements as the first plan. Prior to March 1, 2018, the Company matched 100% of the pilot's contribution, up to 9% of the individual pilot's annual compensation. Beginning on March 1, 2018, the Company contributed 11% of the individual pilot's annual compensation, regardless of the pilot's contributions to the plan. The Company's contribution will increase by 1% on an annual basis each March until 2022 at which time the contribution will be 15%.

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.

Employer contributions made to all plans were $51.1 million, $36.7 million and $19.6 million in 2019, 2018 and 2017, respectively, and were included within salaries, wages and benefits in the accompanying statements of operations.