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Debt and Other Obligations
12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2021
Debt Disclosure [Abstract]  
Debt and Other Obligations Debt and Other Obligations
Long-term debt

    As of December 31, 2021, the Company had outstanding public and non-public debt instruments. During 2021, the Company incurred debt through secured and unsecured term loans and the 1.00% convertible senior notes due 2026 described below.

Fixed-rate unsecured term loans

Pursuant to the Company's PSP agreement with the Treasury, the Company received a total of $344.4 million during 2020, used exclusively to pay for salaries, wages and benefits for the Company’s Team Members through September 30, 2020. Of that amount, $73.3 million is in the form of a low-interest 10-year unsecured term loan. Interest on these loans is payable semi-annually at a rate of 1.0% in years 1 through 5 and a rate of the Secured Overnight Financing Rate plus 2.0% in years 6 through 10. The notes are prepayable at any time, without penalty, at the Company’s option and have principal due at maturity in 2030.

In connection with the Company's participation in the PSP2, the Company received a total of $212.1 million during the first and second quarter of 2021, used exclusively to pay for salaries, wages and benefits for the Company's Team Members through March 31, 2021. Of that amount, $33.6 million is in the form of a low-interest 10-year unsecured term loan. Interest on this loan is payable semi-annually at a rate of 1.0% in years 1 through 5 and a rate of the Secured Overnight Financing Rate plus 2.0% in years 6 through 10. The note is prepayable at any time, without penalty, at the Company’s option and has principal due at maturity in 2031.

In connection with the Company's participation in the PSP3, the Company received a total of $197.9 million during the second quarter of 2021, used exclusively to pay for salaries, wages and benefits for the Company's Team Members through September 30, 2021. Of that amount, $29.4 million is in the form of a low-interest 10-year unsecured term loan. Interest on this loan is payable semi-annually at a rate of 1.0% in years 1 through 5 and a rate of the Secured Overnight Financing Rate plus 2.0% in years 6 through 10. The note is prepayable at any time, without penalty, at the Company’s option and has principal due at maturity in 2031.

The Company has concluded that no terms exist within the PSP, PSP2 and PSP3 contracts that would require a short-term classification of the debt instrument within the Company’s consolidated balance sheet at the inception of the loan. Therefore, the debt has been recorded at face value and classified within long-term debt and finance leases in the Company’s consolidated balance sheets. As of December 31, 2021, the Company had recorded $136.3 million in long-term debt on its consolidated balance sheets, related to the PSP, PSP2 and PSP3.

Revolving credit facility due in 2024

On March 30, 2020, the Company entered into a revolving credit facility for $110.0 million, with an option to increase the overall commitment amount up to $350.0 million with the consent of any participating lenders and subject to borrowing base availability. In the second quarter of 2020, the commitment was increased to $180.0 million and during the first quarter of 2021, the commitment was further increased to $240.0 million. As of December 31, 2020, the Company had drawn $180.0 million on the revolving credit facility. During the second quarter of 2021, the Company paid down the revolving credit facility in full leaving $240.0 million undrawn and available as of December 31, 2021. Any amounts drawn on this facility are included in long-term debt and finance leases, less current maturities on the Company's consolidated balance sheets. During the first quarter of 2021, the maturity date of the facility was extended for two additional years. The final maturity of the facility is March 30, 2024.

The Company may pledge the following types of assets as collateral to secure its obligations under the revolving credit facility: (i) certain take-off and landing rights of the Company at LaGuardia Airport, (ii) certain eligible aircraft spare parts and ground support equipment, (iii) aircraft, spare engines and flight simulators, (v) real property assets and (vi) cash and cash equivalents. The revolving credit facility bears variable interest based on LIBOR, plus a 2.00% margin per annum, or another rate, at the Company's election, based on certain market interest rates, plus a 1.00% margin per annum, in each case with a floor of 0%.
The 2024 revolving credit facility requires the Company to maintain (i) so long as any loans or letters of credit are outstanding under the 2024 revolving credit facility, unrestricted cash, cash equivalents, short-term investment securities and unused commitments available under all revolving credit facilities (including the 2024 revolving credit facility) aggregating not less than $400.0 million, of which no more than $200.0 million may be derived from unused commitments under the 2024 revolving credit facility, (ii) a minimum ratio of the borrowing base of the collateral described above (determined as the sum of a specified percentage of the appraised value of each type of such collateral) to outstanding obligations under the 2024 revolving credit facility of not less than 1.0 to 1.0 (if the Company does not meet the minimum collateral coverage ratio, it must either provide additional collateral to secure its obligations under the 2024 revolving credit facility or repay the loans under the 2024 revolving credit facility by an amount necessary to maintain compliance with the collateral coverage ratio), and (iii) at any time following the date that is one month after the effective date of the 2024 revolving credit facility, the pledged take-off and landing rights of the Company at LaGuardia Airport and a specified number of spare engines in the collateral described above so long as any loans or letters of credit are outstanding under the 2024 revolving credit facility.

Revolving credit facility due in 2021

During the fourth quarter of 2018, the Company entered into a revolving credit facility for up to $160.0 million secured by the collateral assignment of certain of the Company's rights under the purchase agreement with Airbus, related to Airbus A320neo aircraft scheduled to be delivered at the time. The maximum borrowing capacity of the facility decreased with the deliveries of the related aircraft. As of December 31, 2020, the Company had drawn the then maximum borrowing capacity of $95.1 million, included in current maturities of long-term debt and finance leases on the Company's consolidated balance sheets. The revolving credit facility matured on March 30, 2021 and as such, there is no outstanding amount as of December 31, 2021.

Convertible senior notes due 2025

On May 12, 2020, the Company completed the public offering of $175.0 million aggregate principal amount of 4.75% convertible senior notes due 2025 ("convertible notes due 2025"). The convertible notes bear interest at the rate of 4.75% per year and will mature on May 15, 2025. Interest on the notes is payable semi-annually in arrears on May 15 and November 15 of each year, beginning on November 15, 2020. After taking into account the extinguishment of debt discussed below, as of December 31, 2021, the if-converted value exceeds the principal amount of the convertible notes by $36.1 million, using the average stock price for the twelve months ended December 31, 2021. Since the notes are currently convertible in accordance with the terms of the indenture governing such notes, the Company had $28.2 million recorded within current maturities of long-term debt and finance leases on its consolidated balance sheets as of December 31, 2021 related to its convertible senior notes due 2025.

Noteholders may convert their notes at their option only in the following circumstances: (1) during any calendar quarter commencing after the calendar quarter ending on June 30, 2020 (and only during such calendar quarter), if the last reported sale price per share of the Company’s common stock exceeds 130% of the conversion price for each of at least 20 trading days (whether or not consecutive) during the 30 consecutive trading days ending on, and including, the last trading day of the immediately preceding calendar quarter; (2) during the five consecutive business days immediately after any five consecutive trading day period (such five consecutive trading day period, the “measurement period”) in which the trading price per $1,000 principal amount of notes for each trading day of the measurement period was less than 98% of the product of the last reported sale price per share of the Company’s common stock on such trading day and the conversion rate on such trading day; (3) upon the occurrence of certain corporate events or distributions on the Company’s common stock; and (4) at any time from, and including, February 18, 2025 until the close of business on the second scheduled trading day immediately before the maturity date. As of December 31, 2021, the notes may be converted by noteholders through March 31, 2022. No notes were converted during the year ended December 31, 2021, with the exception of the loss on extinguishment of the debt discussed below.

Upon conversion, the Company will pay or deliver, as the case may be, cash, shares of the Company’s common stock or a combination of cash and shares of common stock, at the Company’s election. The initial conversion rate is 78.4314 shares of voting common stock per $1,000 principal amount of convertible notes (equivalent to an initial conversion price of approximately $12.75 per share of common stock). The conversion rate will be subject to adjustment in some events but will not be adjusted for any accrued and unpaid interest. In addition, following certain corporate events that occur prior to the maturity date, the Company will increase the conversion rate for a holder who elects to convert its convertible notes in connection with such a corporate event in certain circumstances. In the event of a “Fundamental Change,” as defined in the indenture governing the convertible notes, the holders may require the Company to purchase for cash all or a portion of their notes at a purchase price equal to the principal amount of the notes, plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any. The Company may not redeem the notes at its option prior to the maturity date.
Convertible senior notes due 2026

On April 30, 2021, the Company completed the public offering of $500.0 million aggregate principal amount of 1.00% convertible senior notes due 2026 ("convertible notes due 2026"). The convertible notes due 2026 will bear interest at the rate of 1.00% per year and will mature on May 15, 2026. Interest on the notes is payable semi-annually in arrears on May 15 and November 15 of each year, beginning on November 15, 2021. Since the notes are currently not convertible, in accordance with the terms of the indenture governing such notes, the Company had $487.2 million recorded within long-term debt, net of debt issuance costs of $12.8 million, on its consolidated balance sheets as of December 31, 2021 related to its 1.00% convertible notes due 2026.

Noteholders may convert their notes at their option only in the following circumstances: (1) during any calendar quarter commencing after the calendar quarter ending on June 30, 2021 (and only during such calendar quarter), if the last reported sale price per share of the Company’s common stock exceeds 130% of the conversion price for each of at least 20 trading days (whether or not consecutive) during the 30 consecutive trading days ending on, and including, the last trading day of the immediately preceding calendar quarter; (2) during the five consecutive business days immediately after any five consecutive trading day period (such five consecutive trading day period, the “measurement period”) in which the trading price per $1,000 principal amount of notes for each trading day of the measurement period was less than 98% of the product of the last reported sale price per share of the Company’s common stock on such trading day and the conversion rate on such trading day; (3) upon the occurrence of certain corporate events or distributions on the Company’s common stock; (4) if the Company calls such notes for redemption; and (5) at any time from, and including, February 17, 2026 until the close of business on the second scheduled trading day immediately before the maturity date. As of December 31, 2021, the notes did not qualify for conversion by noteholders through December 31, 2021.

Upon conversion, the Company will pay or deliver, as the case may be, cash, shares of the Company’s common stock or a combination of cash and shares of common stock, at the Company’s election. However, upon conversion of any notes, the conversion value, which will be determined over an observation period consisting of 40 trading days, will be paid in cash up to at least the principal amount of the notes being converted. The initial conversion rate is 20.3791 shares of voting common stock per $1,000 principal amount of convertible notes (equivalent to an initial conversion price of approximately $49.07 per share of common stock). The conversion rate will be subject to adjustment in some events but will not be adjusted for any accrued and unpaid interest.

The notes will be redeemable, in whole or in part (subject to certain limitations described below), at the Company’s option at any time, and from time to time, on or after May 15, 2024 and on or before the 40th scheduled trading day immediately before the maturity date, at a cash redemption price equal to the principal amount of the notes to be redeemed, plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any, to, but excluding, the redemption date, but only if the last reported sale price per share of the Company's common stock exceeds 130% of the conversion price for a specified period of time. However, the Company may not redeem less than all of the outstanding notes unless at least $150.0 million aggregate principal amount of notes are outstanding and not called for redemption as of the time the Company sends the related redemption notice.

8.00% Senior Secured Notes due 2025

On September 17, 2020, the Company completed the private offering by Spirit IP Cayman Ltd., an indirect wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company (the “Brand Issuer”), and Spirit Loyalty Cayman Ltd., an indirect wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company (the “Loyalty Issuer” and, together with the Brand Issuer, the “Issuers”) of an aggregate of $850.0 million principal amount of 8.00% senior secured notes due 2025. The 8.00% senior secured notes will mature on September 20, 2025. The 8.00% senior secured notes bear interest at a rate of 8.00% per annum, payable in quarterly installments on January 20, April 20, July 20 and October 20 of each year, beginning January 20, 2021. In the twelve months ended December 31, 2020, the Company received proceeds of $823.9 million, net of issuance costs of $17.4 million and original issue discount of $8.7 million, related to this private offering. The 8.00% senior secured notes are secured on a senior basis by first-priority security interests in substantially all of the assets of the Issuers, other than excluded property and subject to certain permitted liens.

Extinguishment of Debt

During the second quarter of 2021, the Company used a portion of the net proceeds generated from the issuance of its 1.00% convertible notes due 2026 to repurchase $146.8 million aggregate principal amount of its 4.75% convertible notes due 2025 for $440.7 million, which included a premium of $290.7 million and accrued and unpaid interest of $3.2 million. In connection with this debt extinguishment, the Company recorded $295.2 million within loss on extinguishment of debt on its consolidated statement of operations for the twelve months ended December 31, 2021. This amount includes the $290.7 million in premiums paid to early extinguish the debt and $4.5 million for the write off of related deferred financing costs.
In addition, during the second quarter of 2021, the Company used net proceeds from a registered direct placement of its common stock to holders of its 4.75% convertible notes due 2025 to redeem $340.0 million principal amount of its 8.00% senior secured notes for $368.7 million, which included a premium of $27.2 million and accrued and unpaid interest of $1.5 million. In connection with this debt extinguishment, the Company recorded $36.4 million within loss on extinguishment of debt on its consolidated statement of operation for the twelve months ended December 31, 2021. This amount includes the $27.2 million in premiums paid to early extinguish the debt, $6.1 million for the write-off of related deferred financing costs and $3.1 million for the write-off of the related original issuance discount. Refer to Note 11, Common Stock and Preferred Stock for additional information on the common stock offering completed in the second quarter of 2021.


Long-term debt is comprised of the following:
As of
December 31, 2021December 31, 2020December 31, 2021December 31, 2020
(in millions)(weighted-average interest rates)
8.00% senior secured notes due in 2025
$510.0 $850.0 8.00 %8.00 %
Fixed-rate term loans due through 2039 (1)
1,223.5 1,301.9 3.52 %3.36 %
Unsecured term loans due through 2031136.3 73.3 1.00 %1.00 %
Fixed-rate class A 2015-1 EETC due through 2028
300.6 322.6 4.10 %4.10 %
Fixed-rate class B 2015-1 EETC due through 2024
56.0 64.0 4.45 %4.45 %
Fixed-rate class C 2015-1 EETC due through 2023
75.2 86.6 4.93 %4.93 %
Fixed-rate class AA 2017-1 EETC due through 2030
200.3 214.4 3.38 %3.38 %
Fixed-rate class A 2017-1 EETC due through 2030
66.8 71.5 3.65 %3.65 %
Fixed-rate class B 2017-1 EETC due through 2026
55.8 60.6 3.80 %3.80 %
Fixed-rate class C 2017-1 EETC due through 2023
85.5 85.5 5.11 %5.11 %
Convertible notes due in 202528.2 175.0 4.75 %4.75 %
Convertible notes due in 2026500.0 — 1.00 %N/A
Revolving credit facility due in 2021— 95.1 N/A1.55 %
Revolving credit facility due in 2024— 180.0 N/A2.15 %
Long-term debt$3,238.2 $3,580.5 
Less current maturities208.2 383.5 
Less unamortized discount, net
54.9 131.4 
Total$2,975.1 $3,065.6 
(1) Includes obligations related to one aircraft recorded as a failed sale-leaseback. Refer to Note 15, Leases and Aircraft Maintenance Deposits for additional information.
The Company's debt financings entered into solely to finance aircraft acquisition costs are collateralized by first priority security interest in the individual aircraft being financed. During the year ended December 31, 2021 and 2020, the Company made principal payments of $470.0 million and $254.3 million on its outstanding debt obligations, respectively.

At December 31, 2021, long-term debt principal payments for the next five years and thereafter are as follows:
December 31, 2021
(in millions)
2022$193.0 
2023336.6 
2024222.2 
2025726.6 
2026731.2 
2027 and beyond1,028.6 
Total debt principal payments$3,238.2 


Interest Expense

Interest expense related to long-term debt and finance leases consists of the following:
 Twelve Months Ended December 31,
20212020
(in thousands)
8.00% senior secured notes (1)
$51,897 $19,953 
Fixed-rate term loans42,765 43,591 
Unsecured term loans1,168 409 
Class A 2015-1 EETC12,781 13,730 
Class B 2015-1 EETC2,669 3,027 
Class C 2015-1 EETC3,988 4,565 
Class AA 2017-1 EETC6,938 7,412 
Class A 2017-1 EETC2,501 2,672 
Class B 2017-1 EETC2,189 2,445 
Class C 2017-1 EETC4,367 4,379 
Convertible debt (2)
6,997 14,905 
Revolving credit facilities1,733 5,380 
Finance leases93 195 
Commitment and other fees2,243 1,106 
Amortization of deferred financing costs13,282 10,751 
Total$155,611 $134,520 
(1) Includes $1.3 million and $0.5 million of accretion and $50.6 million and $19.5 million of interest expense for the twelve months ended December 31, 2021 and 2020, respectively.
(2) Includes $9.6 million of accretion and $5.3 million of interest expense for the twelve months ended December 31, 2020. In connection with the adoption of ASU 2020-06, effective January 1, 2021, the Company derecognized the interest expense related to the accretion of the debt discount recorded in prior periods. Refer to Note 3, Recent Accounting Developments, for further information on the adoption of ASU No. 2020-06.
As of December 31, 2021 and 2020, the Company had a line of credit for $10.1 million and $3.1 million, respectively, related to corporate credit cards. Respectively, the Company had drawn $5.6 million and $0.6 million as of December 31, 2021 and 2020, which is included in accounts payable.
As of December 31, 2021 and 2020, the Company had lines of credit with counterparties for derivatives and physical fuel delivery in the amount of $41.5 million. As of December 31, 2021 and 2020, the Company had drawn $16.4 million and $3.7 million, respectively, on these lines of credit for physical fuel delivery, which is included within other current liabilities in the Company's consolidated balance sheets. The Company is required to post collateral for any excess above the lines of credit if the fuel derivatives, if any, are in a net liability position and make periodic payments in order to maintain an adequate undrawn portion for physical fuel delivery. As of December 31, 2021 and 2020, the Company did not have any outstanding fuel derivatives.