Spirit Airlines
Spirit Airlines data sale timeline, step by step
Below are the dated events in the sale of Spirit Airlines' internal records so far. The case is In re Spirit Aviation Holdings, No. 25-11897 (SHL), assigned to Judge Sean H. Lane in Manhattan.
Useful if you are following the case, or planning a data sale inside a case of your own.
01
From filing to bidding rules
2025-08-29
Spirit files its second Chapter 11 case.
2026-05-02
The airline stops flying. Its operating records become an asset to sell.
2026-05-27
Spirit's lawyers file a motion asking for rules to run a data auction (Dkt. 1117).
2026-06-22
Judge Lane signs the order setting the auction rules (Dkt. 1213).
| Date | Step |
|---|---|
| 2025-08-29 | Spirit files its second Chapter 11 case. |
| 2026-05-02 | The airline stops flying. Its operating records become an asset to sell. |
| 2026-05-27 | Spirit's lawyers file a motion asking for rules to run a data auction (Dkt. 1117). |
| 2026-06-22 | Judge Lane signs the order setting the auction rules (Dkt. 1213). |
02
July and August: ombudsman, auction and proposed order
2026-07-17
Lucy L. Thomson is named the consumer privacy ombudsman by the US Trustee (Dkt. 1350).
2026-07-23
The court approves her appointment (Dkt. 1380).
2026-08-14
Online auction, roughly 2.5 hours, managed by Davis Polk and PJT Partners. Google starts at $5.0M and closes at $10.0M, with Mercor's $7.5M held as backup. The ombudsman's filing puts the date at 2026-08-13.
2026-08-17
Spirit files its draft sale order (Dkt. 1469). It contains no privacy conditions, does not forbid re-identification and requires no reporting. A separate declaration (Dkt. 1470) describes the de-identification method, which could prove decisive.
| Date | Step |
|---|---|
| 2026-07-17 | Lucy L. Thomson is named the consumer privacy ombudsman by the US Trustee (Dkt. 1350). |
| 2026-07-23 | The court approves her appointment (Dkt. 1380). |
| 2026-08-14 | Online auction, roughly 2.5 hours, managed by Davis Polk and PJT Partners. Google starts at $5.0M and closes at $10.0M, with Mercor's $7.5M held as backup. The ombudsman's filing puts the date at 2026-08-13. |
| 2026-08-17 | Spirit files its draft sale order (Dkt. 1469). It contains no privacy conditions, does not forbid re-identification and requires no reporting. A separate declaration (Dkt. 1470) describes the de-identification method, which could prove decisive. |
03
Late August to September: objections and a late bid
2026-08-18 to 09-04
Six filings oppose or join objections: ALPA (Dkt. 1558), IAM and TWU Local 570 (Dkt. 1539), International Aero Engines (Dkt. 1538), PAFCA (Dkt. 1521), Springshot (Dkt. 1508) and AFA-CWA (Dkt. 1489).
2026-09-03
micro1 puts in a $12.5M all-cash notice of intent, not dependent on financing (Dkt. 1556).
2026-09-08
The ombudsman's first report sets five categories of conditions (Dkt. 1581).
2026-09-09
Google removes five datasets, including passenger and timecard data, and holds its $10.0M price.
| Date | Step |
|---|---|
| 2026-08-18 to 09-04 | Six filings oppose or join objections: ALPA (Dkt. 1558), IAM and TWU Local 570 (Dkt. 1539), International Aero Engines (Dkt. 1538), PAFCA (Dkt. 1521), Springshot (Dkt. 1508) and AFA-CWA (Dkt. 1489). |
| 2026-09-03 | micro1 puts in a $12.5M all-cash notice of intent, not dependent on financing (Dkt. 1556). |
| 2026-09-08 | The ombudsman's first report sets five categories of conditions (Dkt. 1581). |
| 2026-09-09 | Google removes five datasets, including passenger and timecard data, and holds its $10.0M price. |
04
October: a recommendation and a new hearing date
2026-10-05
The ombudsman backs Google as buyer, provided Tonic.ai certifies the de-identification ahead of every transfer.
October
Sen. Warren and Rep. Horsford lead 121 lawmakers in a letter to Spirit's and Google's CEOs. EPIC submits an amicus brief.
2026-11-06
Hearing on the sale. Earlier dates in September and on 2026-10-14 were pushed back.
| Date | Step |
|---|---|
| 2026-10-05 | The ombudsman backs Google as buyer, provided Tonic.ai certifies the de-identification ahead of every transfer. |
| October | Sen. Warren and Rep. Horsford lead 121 lawmakers in a letter to Spirit's and Google's CEOs. EPIC submits an amicus brief. |
| 2026-11-06 | Hearing on the sale. Earlier dates in September and on 2026-10-14 were pushed back. |
We will add the outcome when it is reported. For the bigger picture, see the Spirit data sale.
FAQ
Questions, answered
When is the Spirit data sale hearing?
Skift reports 2026-11-06. The date has moved before, the last time from 2026-10-14.
When was the auction?
The auction notice gives 2026-08-14, the ombudsman's report 2026-08-13. Bidding ran roughly two and a half hours.
What is the case number?
In re Spirit Aviation Holdings, No. 25-11897 (SHL), U.S. Bankruptcy Court, S.D.N.Y.
When did micro1 bid?
About three weeks after bidding closed, through a notice of intent dated 2026-09-03 (Dkt. 1556).
Who ran the auction?
Davis Polk and PJT Partners, according to the declaration filed afterward.
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Sources
Every number on this page links back to one of these.
- 1Chapter11Cases (Stretto): docket report on the Spirit Airlines de-identified data salechapter11cases.com
- 2Skift: the list of objections to Spirit's data sale keeps growing (12 Oct 2026)skift.com
- 3The Next Web: ombudsman backs Google's purchase of Spirit Airlines datathenextweb.com
- 4Fortune: micro1 tries to beat Google's bid for Spirit Airlines data (14 Sep 2026)fortune.com
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