Spirit Airlines appoints Sun Country executive Dave Davis as new CEO By Reuters
Written by Emily J. Thompson, Senior Investment Analyst
Updated: Apr 17 2025
0mins
Should l Buy DAL?
Source: Investing.com
New CEO Appointment: Spirit Airlines has appointed Dave Davis as its new CEO, effective April 21, following the airline's emergence from bankruptcy and a board reconstitution.
Business Overhaul Goals: Davis, previously CFO at Sun Country Airlines, will lead efforts to transform Spirit from a no-frills carrier into a premium airline amid ongoing financial challenges.
Trade with 70% Backtested Accuracy
Stop guessing "Should I Buy DAL?" and start using high-conviction signals backed by rigorous historical data.
Sign up today to access powerful investing tools and make smarter, data-driven decisions.
Analyst Views on DAL
Wall Street analysts forecast DAL stock price to rise over the next 12 months. According to Wall Street analysts, the average 1-year price target for DAL is 81.36 USD with a low forecast of 69.00 USD and a high forecast of 90.00 USD. However, analyst price targets are subjective and often lag stock prices, so investors should focus on the objective reasons behind analyst rating changes, which better reflect the company's fundamentals.
16 Analyst Rating
16 Buy
0 Hold
0 Sell
Strong Buy
Current: 75.000
Low
69.00
Averages
81.36
High
90.00
Current: 75.000
Low
69.00
Averages
81.36
High
90.00
About DAL
Delta Air Lines, Inc. provides scheduled air transportation for passengers and cargo throughout the United States and around the world. The Company has hubs and markets in Amsterdam, Atlanta, Bogota, Boston, Detroit, Lima, London-Heathrow, Los Angeles, Mexico City, Minneapolis-St. Paul, New York-JFK and LaGuardia, Paris-Charles de Gaulle, Salt Lake City, Santiago (Chile), Sao Paulo, Seattle, Seoul-Incheon, and Tokyo. Its segments include Airline and Refinery. Its airline segment is managed as a single business unit that provides scheduled air transportation for passengers and cargo throughout the United States and around the world and includes its loyalty program, as well as other ancillary businesses. Its refinery segment operates for the benefit of the airline segment by providing jet fuel to the airline segment from its own production and through jet fuel obtained through agreements with third parties. The refinery's production consists of jet fuel as well as non-jet fuel products.
About the author

Emily J. Thompson
Emily J. Thompson, a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) with 12 years in investment research, graduated with honors from the Wharton School. Specializing in industrial and technology stocks, she provides in-depth analysis for Intellectia’s earnings and market brief reports.
- Certification Progress: FAA Administrator Bryan Bedford announced that Canada is expected to certify Gulfstream jets this week, resolving a long-standing issue highlighted by President Trump, indicating an improvement in U.S.-Canada aviation cooperation.
- Political Context: Trump previously threatened to impose a 50% import tariff on all Canadian-made aircraft until Gulfstream jets were certified, a move that could significantly impact U.S. carriers like American Airlines and Delta Air Lines, underscoring the potential risks of trade policies on the aviation industry.
- Collaborative Dynamics: A spokesperson for Canada's transport minister stated that Transport Canada is still working with Gulfstream and the FAA on the certification process, suggesting a gradual restoration of cooperation in the aviation sector between the two countries.
- Industry Impact: The ability of the U.S. to decertify aircraft for economic reasons could empower other nations, posing risks to the global aviation system, which has raised concerns among airlines about the importance of international trade policies.
See More
- Deliveries and Orders Growth: Boeing's deliveries and orders in January showed year-over-year growth, reflecting the company's positive performance amid the aviation market recovery, which enhances investor confidence in its future earnings.
- Outperforming Competitors: Boeing's growth in deliveries and orders surpassed that of its European rivals, indicating an increase in its competitiveness in the global aviation market, which may attract more customers and orders.
- Effective Strategic Adjustments: The company has successfully improved delivery efficiency through optimized production processes and supply chain management, which not only enhances customer satisfaction but also lays the groundwork for future order growth.
- Optimistic Industry Outlook: As demand for air travel continues to recover, Boeing's growth trend may persist, further solidifying its leadership position in the global aerospace manufacturing industry.
See More
- Record Highs for Dow Jones: The Dow Jones Industrial Average continues to reach record highs, indicating strong market performance.
- Transportation Average Performance: The Dow Jones Transportation Average is also nearing record highs, reflecting positive trends in the transportation sector.
See More
- Leadership Scrutiny: Pilot and flight attendant unions have raised concerns about CEO Robert Isom's leadership, citing underperformance in financial and operational metrics that have led to reduced profit-sharing for employees, negatively impacting morale.
- Profitability Decline: American Airlines reported a profit of $111 million in 2025, which pales in comparison to Delta Air Lines' $5 billion and United Airlines' $3.3 billion profits, highlighting a significant gap in market competitiveness.
- Transformation Strategy: Isom has outlined a strategy focused on enhancing customer service and revenue management, expressing optimism for 2026 despite challenges posed by winter storms, and emphasizing the need for accountability from senior leadership and teamwork.
- Intensified Market Competition: American Airlines faces fierce competition at major hubs like Chicago and Charlotte, particularly against United Airlines, with analysts questioning whether the current strategy will effectively close the performance gap with peers, indicating a long road ahead for transformation.
See More
- Market Sentiment Shift: As fears grow that artificial intelligence could disrupt demand rather than enhance it, software and AI-exposed stocks have faced significant sell-offs at the start of 2023, particularly in February, leading investors to reassess their risk exposure.
- Capital Flow Changes: Goldman Sachs equity strategist Ben Snider indicates that capital is rotating towards sectors perceived as insulated from AI disruption, marking a clear departure from last year's market strategies and reflecting diminished investor confidence in AI themes.
- Cyclical Industry Rally: Despite software stocks experiencing one of their worst weeks since the 2022 rate-hike panic, cyclical and consumer-linked industries have continued their recent rallies, indicating a growing preference for traditional sectors among investors.
- Strong Dow Jones Performance: Amid the decline in software stocks, the Dow Jones Industrial Average has rallied towards all-time highs, suggesting increased investor confidence in industries tied to physical assets and cyclical activity, further emphasizing the market's demand for safety from AI-driven productivity risks.
See More
- Profit Comparison: American Airlines reported only $111 million in profit last year, significantly trailing Delta Air Lines' $5 billion and United Airlines' over $3.3 billion, indicating a lack of competitiveness that may impact investor confidence.
- Leadership Scrutiny: The airline's poor performance has led pilot and flight attendant unions to question CEO Robert Isom's leadership, arguing that the company has failed to define an effective strategy to correct its course, resulting in employee disappointment about the future.
- Transformation Challenges: American Airlines is attempting to boost revenue through premium product offerings, despite sluggish growth in economy cabin revenue; Isom stated that by 2026, half of the company's revenue is expected to come from
See More











