Spirit Airlines SAVEQ.PK on Thursday appointed Dave Davis as its new chief executive officer, weeks after the U.S. discount carrier emerged from bankruptcy and reconstituted its board.
Davis, joining from rival Sun Country Airlines SNCY.O where he was the finance chief since 2018, will be tasked with a business overhaul as Spirit works to move away from its no-frills image and rebrand itself as a premium airline, after years of mounting losses.
The appointment, effective April 21, comes just more than a week after Ted Christie stepped down from the helm of Spirit with immediate effect as part of a shakeup.
Davis had previously worked as the CFO of Northwest Airlines before its merger with Delta Air Lines.
“Dave’s background at both Northwest Airlines and, more recently, at Sun Country Airlines, positions him well to lead Spirit’s continued transformation,” Spirit Chairman Robert Milton said.
Sun Country in a separate regulatory filing on Thursday announced Davis’ departure effective immediately.
Spirit had set up an interim office of the CEO, consisting of Chief Financial Officer Fred Cromer, Chief Operating Officer John Bendoraitis and General Counsel Thomas Canfield, to lead the airline until it appoints a new chief.
The Florida-based carrier had filed for bankruptcy protection last November, following years of losses and heavy debt, and failed merger attempts.
Spirit had been in merger talks with Frontier Group ULCC.O since at least 2022, but ended them in favor of a more attractive offer from rival JetBlue Airways JBLU.O.
Its merger with JetBlue was ultimately scrapped after a U.S. judge blocked it on anti-competition concerns.
Frontier had also approached the airline with a merger proposal during Spirit’s bankruptcy proceedings, but Spirit rejected the offer, saying it was less favorable for shareholders and opted instead to pursue its own restructuring plan.