Google to buy Spirit Airlines data for $10M to train AI
4 Investments Google is buying Spirit Airlines’ de-identified business data for $10M to train AI models. The sale, which includes emails and HR records, awaits bankruptcy court approval.
Google has agreed to purchase Spirit Airlines’ internal business data for $10 million after winning a bankruptcy auction. The data package includes employee emails, Microsoft Teams messages, spreadsheets, calendars, booking and frequent-flyer records, HR information, and various marketing, productivity, and operations records. All data will be de-identified before transfer, ensuring no customer or personally identifiable information is included. This sale is part of Spirit Airlines’ bankruptcy proceedings, with a competing $7.5 million bid from AI data firm Mercor. The transaction still requires approval from a bankruptcy court, with a hearing scheduled for August 19, 2026. Google stated it will use the data to improve its products and train AI models, committing to maintain the de-identified status of the data. Spirit Airlines ceased operations in May and is liquidating its assets as part of the bankruptcy process.
