FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. (VINnews) — The collapse of Spirit Airlines has triggered a massive effort to repossess aircraft, liquidate assets and redistribute valuable airport space as the discount carrier formally winds down operations.

According to a report by NPR, dozens of Spirit’s signature yellow jets are already being ferried from airports across the country to long-term storage facilities in Arizona following the airline’s shutdown last weekend.

Industry officials told NPR that the airline ceased operations with more than 90 aircraft spread across airports nationwide, creating a logistical scramble for lessors, airport operators and aviation recovery firms. Most of Spirit’s fleet was leased rather than owned outright, leading aircraft owners to move quickly to reclaim planes before arranging new leases or parting them out for engines and components.

Aviation specialists said some aircraft may soon return to service under different carriers, while others could remain parked in desert storage facilities for months amid uncertainty in the airline industry.

Beyond aircraft, Spirit is also attempting to monetize a wide range of assets through bankruptcy proceedings and liquidation efforts. Those holdings reportedly include maintenance facilities, office properties in South Florida, spare engines, airport gates and valuable takeoff and landing slots at some of the nation’s most congested airports.

Analysts interviewed by NPR said Spirit’s airport access rights alone could prove highly attractive to competitors seeking to expand service in major markets. Gates tied to airports in cities including Houston, Dallas, Las Vegas and Los Angeles are expected to generate strong interest from rival airlines.

Particular attention is also being focused on Spirit’s coveted operating slots at LaGuardia Airport and Newark Liberty International Airport, where limited runway capacity makes landing rights especially valuable. Aviation experts told NPR that multiple airlines are likely to compete aggressively for those slots during the liquidation process.

The process of recovering aircraft has reportedly been far from smooth. Recovery crews and contract pilots have encountered confusion and resistance at airports while attempting to retrieve grounded jets. Some ferry pilots involved in the operations previously worked for Spirit and are now helping transport aircraft wearing casual clothing rather than airline uniforms, adding to the unusual scenes unfolding at airport gates around the country.

Industry analysts told NPR that broader economic pressures could complicate Spirit’s liquidation timeline. Rising jet fuel prices and financial strain across the airline sector have reduced demand for older or less fuel-efficient aircraft, potentially slowing asset sales and depressing values.

While experts expect buyers eventually to emerge for many of Spirit’s assets, they cautioned that the process could take months, leaving rows of grounded yellow aircraft sitting idle in Arizona’s desert storage yards as one of America’s most recognizable low-cost airlines disappears from the skies.