American Airlines To Buy Two Spirit Gates at O’Hare for $30M

American Airlines has set plans to purchase two airport gates, G8 and G10, from Spirit Airlines at Chicago O'Hare International Airport for $30 million. A US Bankruptcy Court judge approved the deal on December 8, 2025.

The sale marks the first time Spirit has transferred assets to another airline during its second bankruptcy.

Why the deal happened

As Spirit cut its peak daily flights from 32 to roughly half, it no longer needed the full set of gates.

Spirit filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in August 2025 after facing severe cash shortages and ongoing financial losses. The airline currently holds four valuable gates in O'Hare’s Terminal 3, located at G8, G10, G12, and G14. These gates are already shared with American Airlines.

The carrier chose to keep G12 and G14 and sell the remaining two to raise funds. The sale is especially beneficial to American because one of its Admirals Club lounges sits directly at G8, making the space ideal for improving customer service and operational efficiency.

How both parties benefit

For American Airlines, the gate purchase is a strategic win. Earlier in 2025, American lost four gates to United during an airport reallocation based on flight volume. American challenged the decision in court but could not reverse it. Acquiring G8 and G10 helps American regain some ground at one of its most important hubs.

Spirit plans to put the $15 million per gate toward paying down specialized bankruptcy loans as part of its major restructuring efforts.

Both airlines agreed that the price reflects the current market value after a fair negotiation process. The deal strengthens American’s position at O'Hare while giving Spirit a financial boost during its overhaul.

American deepens its involvement in Spirit’s case

Meanwhile, American Airlines has filed a notice of appearance in Spirit’s bankruptcy case in the Southern District of New York.

This gives American the legal right to receive all key updates on the case, including financial filings, restructuring proposals, and any future asset transactions.

The move shows that American is carefully watching Spirit’s reorganization. As Spirit continues shrinking its network and fleet, American could find more opportunities to expand its presence in strategic markets.

Photo by David Syphers on Unsplash