Google Scoops Up Bankrupt Spirit Airlines' Data for $10 Million
Alphabet Inc.'s Google has agreed to buy internal business data from bankrupt Spirit Airlines for $10 million. The data, which includes employee emails, Microsoft Teams messages, spreadsheets, and calendars, will be used for product development and artificial intelligence model training. A third party will scrub the dataset before handing it over to Google, ensuring that no personal information is included.
The sale was made in response to Spirit Airlines' bankruptcy filing last year. The airline shut down operations in May after high jet fuel costs derailed a planned restructuring and a proposed federal rescue plan fell through. Spirit has since sold off other assets, including its takeoff and landing slots at New York's LaGuardia Airport.
A US bankruptcy judge will consider approving the sale on Wednesday. Spirit Airlines also received a competing bid of $7.5 million from AI data company Mercor.